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BX  9211  .A9  3  V3  1900 1 

Van  Devanter,  James  Nichols' 

1857- 
History  of  the  Augusta     I 

church  ' 


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^lo 


'^ 


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rHISTORY 


OF  THE 


AUGUSTA  CHURCH, 


FROM 


1737  to  1900II 


/ 


BY 


Rev.  J.  N.  VAN  DEVANTER, 

Pastor  of  the  Church. 


^ 


STAUNTON,  VA.: 

The  Ross  Printing  Company. 

1900. 


CoPYRKiHTED,    IQOO, 
BY 

Rev.  J.  N.  VAN  DEVANTER. 


{All  rig  his  reseri'ed.') 


TO 

my  Congregation, 

WHICH   HAS  BEEN  SO  CONSIDERATE  OF  ME 

FOR  NEARLY  NINE  YEARS, 

I    AFFECTIONATELY    DEDICATE 

THIS  VOLUME. 


PREFACE. 


The  present  volume  is  the  outgrowth  of  an  attempt  to  prepare  a  sketch 
of  this  Church.  The  material  multiplied  till  the  dimensions  had  grown  beyond 
the  limits  of  a  sketch,  and  hence  it  was  determined  to  put  this  material  in 
permanent  book  form,  rather  than  in  a  pamphlet,  that  it  might  be  the  better 
preserved. 

The  engravings  have  been  added  at  a  considerable  cost,  that  the  history 
might  be  made  more  real.  The  authorities  carefully  studied  and  quoted  from 
were  Foote's  Sketches  of  Virginia,  first  and  second  series;  JVaddeU's  Annals 
of  Augusta  County;  The  Minutes  of  Lexington  Presbytery,  and  the  Sessional 
Records  of  this  Church. 

I  have  gathered  the  facts  and  endeavored  to  present  them  as  faithfully  as 
possible. 

In  giving  the  history  of  the  last  period  of  twenty  years  I  have  departed 
from  the  manner  in  which  I  dealt  with  former  periods,  because  the  th'-ee  who 
ministered  here  during  this  time  are  still  living,  and  the  third  one  is  writing 
the  history.    For  this  reason  it  was  treated  in  a  perfectly  general  way. 

May  the  Lord  bless  this  effort  to  the  glory  of  His  name  and  to  the  stirring 
up  of  the  minds  and  hearts  of  our  people  to  true  Christian  patriotism. 

J.  N.  Van  DevAxNtter. 

Fort  Defiance,  V k..  Jatitiary  /,  igoo. 


History  of  Augusta   Church. 


THIS  Church  is  a  result.  It  results  from  principles  which  had  been  in 
existence  a  long  time,  which  had  operated  in  Germany,  France,  Switzer- 
land, the  Netherlands,  and  the  British  Isles,  which  caused  those  who  became  its 
members  and  supporters,  or  their  ancestors,  to  seek  homes  in  this  new  and 
unsettled  country.  From  being  an  effect,  it  in  turn  becomes  a  cause,  a  link  in 
the  chain  of  cause  and  effect,  which  has  transmitted  to  us  the  blessings  which 
we  now  enjoy. 

The  present  is  so  abundant  in  its  blessings  and  advantages  which  we  have 
as  compared  with  those  of  our  forefathers,  that  we  are  apt  to  forget  the  giver 
in  the  enjoyment  of  the  gift. 

Whatever  we  enjoy  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  has  not  always  been  so, 
but  has  evolved  out  of  the  abuses  of  the  rights  and  privileges  which  God  gave 
to  man.  These  abuses  were  the  taking  away  from  man  the  truth,  and  denying 
to  him  the  liberty  of  conscience. 

With  the  dawn  of  the  Reformation,  the  revival  of  the  study  of  the  Word 
of  God,  came  the  exercise  of  the  liberty  of  conscience,  and  the  change  from 
darkness  to  light,  from  bondage  to  liberty. 

The  doctrines  of  Calvinism,  and  the  sturdy  independence  which  these 
doctrines  beget  in  the  minds  and  hearts  of  all  who  receive  them,  recoenizine 
as  they  do  God's  absolute  sovereignty,  man's  total  depravity,  and  Jesus 
Christ  the  only  mediator  between  God  and  man,  had  more  to  do  with,  and 
entered  more  largely  into,  the  forming  and  fashioning  of  our  country  and  its 
Government  than  anything  else. 

These  stern  convictions  of  duty  and  responsibility  to  God  provoked  the 
troubles  which  caused  large  numbers  to  seek  homes  here,  where  the  authority 


jQ  HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 

of  neither  Church  nor  State  would  prevent  them  from  worshipping  and  serving 
God  according  to  the  dictates  of 'their  own  consciences. 

Fohowing  the  history  of  this  spirit,  born  of  the  Truth  and  the  Holy 
Spirit,  will  account  for  the  large  numbers  of  oppressed  and  persecuted  people 
who  escaped  from  Scotland  to  the  North  of  Ireland. 

When  they  were  no  longer  secure  there  they  came  to  this  country, 
braving  the  dangers  of  voyage,  as  it  was  in  those  times,  when  it  took  months 
instead  of  days  to  cross  the  ocean,  and  facing  the  dangers  incident  to  settling 
in  a  strange  country  inhabited  by  Indians. 

They  were  willing  to  endure  all  this  rather  than  to  give  up  this  principle. 
These  Scotch-Irish  came  to  Pennsylvania,  and  from  there  to  this  beautiful 
valley.  That  part  of  Virginia  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge  had  been  settled  long 
before  this.  This  valley  was  the  frontier.  It  was  one  of  the  favorite  hunting 
grounds  of  the  Red  Man. 

The  Governor  of  the  colony  encouraged  all  to  settle  here  that  he  could, 
especially  these  brave  people,  mainly  because  he  wanted  to  build  up  protection 
for  the  East  side.  By  having  this  valley  filled  with  people  between  himself  and 
the  Indians  of  the  West  and  Northwest,  they  could  not  so  easily  reach  him 
and  his  people. 


CHAPTER  I. 
Rev.  John  Craig,  D.  D. 

THE  history  of  this  Church  extends  ahiiost  to  the  first  settlement  in  this 
part  of  the  valley.  So  far  as  is  known,  the  county  was  entered  for  the  first 
time  by  white  men  in  1716,  when  Governor  Spotswood  and  some  of  his  staff 
crossed  the  Blue  Ridge  and  formally  "took  possession  for  King  George  the 
First  of  England".  Mr.  Waddell  (author  of  Annals  of  Augusta  County) 
concludes  from  many  accounts  that  John  Lewis  was  the  first  white  settler  in 
what  is  now  Augusta  county  in  the  summer  of  1732,  near  the  twin  mountains 
Betsy  Bell  and  Mary  Gray.  From  this  time  the  population  increased  very 
rapidly,  many  coming  up  the  \'alley  from  Pennsylvania.  There  were  enough 
people  here  to  organize  this  territory  into  a  county.  October  30,  1745, 
Governor  Gooch  issued  the  commission,  and  December  9,  1745,  the  county  was 
duly  organized.  In  1738,  November  i,  however,  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  colony  of  Virginia  passed  an  act  establishing  the  counties  of  Frederick  and 
Augusta,  but  they  were  not  organized  until  1745. 

The  county  of  Augusta  then  covered  all  the  territory  embraced  in  the 
States  of  Kentucky,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  nearly  all  of  West  Virginia. 
In  1745  what  is  now  Staunton  was  called  "Beverly's  Mill  Place." 

This  country  was  visited  frequently  by  the  Indians.  It  was  wild  indeed, 
but  was  rapidly  filled  by  this  sturdy  liberty-loving  people.  We  are  told  that 
"they  were  generally  profoundly  religious,  bringing  their  Bibles  with  them, 
whatever  else  they  had  to  leave  behind."  The  earliest  recorded  movement 
upon  the  part  of  these  people  for  organized  church  work  was  in  1737. 

"A  supplication  from  the  people  of  Beverly  Manor,  in  the  back  parts  of 
Virginia,  was  laid  before  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  Pennsylvania,  September 
2,  1737,  recjuesting  ministerial  supplies."  This  recjuest  was  denied  at  the  time, 
but  tlie  following  year  Rev.  James  Anderson  was  sent.  Mr.  Anderson 
preached  the  first  regular  sermon   ever  delivered  in  this  section  of  the  country. 

"In  1739  they  applied  for  the  services  of  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson,  who  came 


12 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 


and  preached  for  a  time."  In  both  of  these  instances,  in  the  "suppHcation" 
for  Mr.  Anderson  in  1737,  and  ]\ir.  Thompson  in  1739,  we  have  evidence  that 
there  was  an  organization  here  earher  than  1740.  It  is  perfectly  clear  that 
there  was  concerted  action  upon  their  part. 

"In  1740,  Robert  Doak  and  Daniel  Dennison  from  Virginia  declared,  in 
the  name  of  the  congregation  of  Shenandoah,  their  adherence  to  the  call 
formerly  presented  to  Mr.  Craig'. 

Dr.  Craig  came  in  1740,  and  his  coming  was  really  upon  being  called  the 
second  time.  This  is  a  third  instance  which  gives  weight  to  the  supposition 
that  there  was  an  organization  here  earlier  than  1740. 

Rev.  John  Craig,  who  was  called  to  this  Church,  was  born  in  the  parish  of 
Donagor,  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  August  17,  1709.  He  was  born  of  pious 
parents,  who  took  great  pains  in  "instructing  him  in  the  principles  of  religion." 
He  was  very  early  affected  by  these  teachings,  and  at  the  age  of  five  or  six  was 
compelled  "to  fly  to  God  with  prayers  and  tears  in  secret  for  pardon,  peace, 
guidance  and  direction." 

About  the  age  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  he  made  a  profession  of  religion, 
"being  admitted,  after  examination,  to  the  Lord's  table  by  Rev.  Alexander 
Brown,  who  baptized  him." 

He  devoted  himself  to  study  so  faithfully  that  he  says,  "I  never  received 
one  stroke  or  so  much  as  a  sharp  rebuke  from  all  the  masters  I  was  with." 

In  1732  he  attained  to  the  degree  of  M.  A.  in  the  College  of  Edinburgh. 
At  this  time  he  was  much  in  doubt  as  to  what  calling  he  should  choose,  but 
after  a  "long  and  dangerous  illness"  he  was  pretty  well  settled  upon  the  min- 
istry. He  says :  "America  was  then  much  in  my  mind,  accompanied  with  the 
argument  that  service  would  be  most  pleasing  and  acceptable  where  most  need- 
ful and  wanting,  which  raised  in  me  a  strong  desire  to  see  that  part  of  the 
world. 

"At  that  time  I  had  a  dream  or  vision  representing  to  me,  as  it  were,  in 
miniature  the  whole  that  has  happened  to  me  of  any  importance  these  thirty- 
five  years;  yea,  the  very  place  I  have  been  settled  in  these  thirty-five  years. 
I  knew  it  at  first  sight,  and  have  done  here  what  was  represented  to  me  then." 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH.  I3 

This  was  a  wonderful  experience  indeed,  but  is  surpassed  by  that  which  fol- 
lows. He  embarked  at  Larne,  June  10,  1734,  and  w^as  landed  at  Newcastle, 
on  the  Delaware,  the  17th  of  the  succeeding-  August.  "I  escaped  a  very  immi- 
nent danger  without  any  means  but  the  kind  hand  of  Providence,  being  acci- 
dentally cast  overboard  in  a  dark  and  tempestuous  night.  I  lay  as  on  a  bed  of 
down  on  my  back,  on  the  raging  wave  which  tossed  me  back  on  the  ship's  side, 
where  I  found  hold  and  sprung  aboard,  and  none  aboard  knew  of  it."  In 
September  he  attended  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia  and  presented  his  letters  of 
introduction.  After  looking  for  some  time  for  a  suitable  home  and  position, 
he  w^as  employed  as  teacher  in  the  family  of  Rev.  John  Thompson.  He 
taught  school  one  year,  and  read  two  more.  He  "entered  on  trials  and  was 
licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal  1737,"  and  was  sent  to  the  congrega- 
tions of  the  valley,  which  he  visited.  He  was  ordained  in  S'eptember,  1740. 
His  ordination  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sankey,  from  the  text 
Jer.  iii :  15:  'T  will  give  you  pastors  after  mine  own  heart,  which  shall  feed 
you  with  knowledge  and  understanding." 

After  his  ordination,  he  came  to  this  field  of  labor,  "purchased  a  plantation 
and  began  to  improve  upon  it,  and  June  11,  1744,  married  a  young  gentle- 
woman of  a  good  family  and  character  ....  daughter  of  Mr.  George 
Russel,  by  whom  I  had  nine  children." 

The  period  covered  by  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Craig  was  a  most  interesting 
one.  It  was  a  formative  one,  when  the  future  was  as  unmarked  as  the  forests 
and  lands  to  which  they  had  come.  There  were  no  roads  except  the  occa- 
sional trail  of  the  Indian.  They  had  nothing  to  guide  them  save  the  compass, 
the  stars,  and  the  moss  upon  the  trees.  So  with  their  future.  They  had  their 
Bibles,  their  reason  and  their  consciences,  untrammelled  by  Church  or  State, 
to  guide  them.  They  were  free  to  worship  as  they  thought  right,  and  their 
duties  to  fellow-man  and  to  the  State  would  be  determined  by  this. 

This  principle  was  what  led  them  to  this  country;  now  we  find  it  guiding 
them  in  afl^airs  of  Church  and  State. 

These  liberty-loving  and  God-fearing  people  were  moving  into  the  valley 
rapidly.      This   section.    Tinkling   Spring,    and   about    Staunton,   must   have 


j^  HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 

reached  hundreds,  for  there  were  enough  people  here  in  1738,  six  years  from 
the  date  of  the  first  settlement,  to  justify  the  action  of  the  General  Assemhly  of 
the  colony  of  Virginia,  to  pass  an  order  to  organize  this  section  into  a  county. 
This  was  not  carried  out  till  1745- 

This  Church  was  organized  not  later  than  1740  ;  which  makes  it  five  years 
older  than  the  county  of  Augusta,  and  older  than  the  city  of  Staunton.  In 
this  period,  and  for  a  long  time  afterwards,  "money  was  counted  in  pounds, 
shillings  and  pence:  One  pound,  Virginia  currency,  being  $3.33  1-3;  sugar 
was  .16  2-3  per  lb. ;  2  nutmegs,  .22  ;  ^  lb.  powder,  .33  1-3  ;  ^  lb.  lead,  .19^, 
and  one  ounce  of  Indigo,  .25." 

"Rates  for  ordinaries  fixed  by  the  court  1746:  "Hot  diet,  .I2>4;  cold 
ditto,  .08  1-3;  lodging,  with  clean  sheets,  .o^Yi;  stabling  and  fodder  for  a 
night,  .08  1-3." 

It  is  difficult  for  us,  living  in  this  age  with  every  modern  improvement, 
to  imagine  the  real  state  of  things  in  those  days.  We  have  fine  roads,  railroads, 
the  telegraph  and  telephone,  making  our  mode  of  travel  as  rapid  and  com- 
fortable as  possible,  and  the  means  of  communication  almost  perfect. 

They  were  without  any  of  these  things.  The  absence  of  them  made  the 
difficulties  in  the  way  of  transacting  business,  and  the  meeting  for  social  and 
religious  purposes,  as  great  as  possible. 

They  did  not  find  homes  ready  for  their  families,  nor  the  land  ready  for 
cultivation,  but  they  had  to  fell  the  trees,  build  their  houses,  and  clear  and 
cultivate  the  land.  Suiting  themselves  in  a  location,  selecting  according  to 
their  tastes,  whether  for  farming  or  grazing,  gradually  the  settlement  grew. 

The  church  grew  under  the  ministrations  of  Dr.  Craig.  Some  idea  of 
the  growth  of  the  church  and  the  settlement  may  be  had  from  this  entry  in 
Dr.  Craig's  diary :  "The  year  being  ended,  the  whole  number  baptized  by 
me  is  one  hundred  and  thirty-three."  "Robert,  son  of  Robert  Young,  was 
baptized  January  22,  1742,"  and  Mr.  Craig  notes  that  he  was  "born  with  teeth." 

In  the  second  year  of  his  pastorate  he  baptized  eighty-two.  This  is  the 
record  of  infant  baptisms,  and  indicates  a  large  population,  considering  the 
short  time  since  the  first  settler  came  to  this  part  of  the  valley. 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH.  1 5 

They  worshipped  first  in  a  log  building  situated  near  where  the  "old 
cemetery"  now  is ;  or  perhaps  it  was  in  one  corner  of  this  enclosure.  The  loca- 
tion of  this  log  building  may  account  for  the  location  of  the  "old  cemetery" 
being  so  far  from  the  present  church  building. 

We  have  no  way  of  determining  how  long  they  were  in  building  the 
present  house  of  worship;  but  it  must  have  required  much  longer  than  it 
would  to  build  a  structure  of  the  same  kind  now.  In  the  minutes  of  session 
January  2,  1848,  mention  is  made  of  the  session  meeting  in  "the  new  session 
house." 

"It  was  built  in  1847,  the  hundredth  year  since  the  building  of  the  church." 
Th.is  must  evidently  mean  since  the  commencement  of  building  the  church, 
for  we  have,  from  Dr.  Craig  himself,  the  date,  January  22,  1749,  on  which  they 
held  their  first  service  in  this  building.  If  this  supposition  be  true,  it  gives 
us  some  idea  of  the  length  of  time  it  took  for  them  to  build  the  church.  If  it 
be  not  true,  then  this  statement  makes  the  church  hvo  years  older  than  it  is 
generally  thought  to  be,  and  leaves  us  to  wonder  why  (if  finished  in  '47) 
they  should  wait  until  '49  before  worshipping  in  it. 

These  people  did  not  have  the  improved  implements  for  quarrying  the 
stone,  nor  wagons  for  hauling  them.  Evidently  they  could  not  work  con- 
tinuously, because  of  the  demands  upon  their  time  for  providing  for  and  pro- 
tecting their  families.  It  might  almost  be  said  of  them,  as  it  was  said  of 
God's  people  of  old,  "every  one  with  one  of  his  hands  wrought  in  the  work, 
and  with  the  other  hand  held  a  weapon." 

The  stone  was  brought  on  "drags"  or  "lizards."  Tradition  says  that 
the  sand  for  the  mortar  was  brought  from  North  River,  several  miles  dis- 
tant. It  was  chosen  because  of  its  superior  quality.  The  women  are  said 
to  have  brought  this  sand  on  "  pack-horses."  The  securing  of  a  sufficient 
amount  of  it  for  a  building  of  this  size,  from  the  most  convenient  location, 
and  with  the  best  of  wagons  and  plenty  of  hands,  would  now  be  considered 
a  big  undertaking.  Whether  many  or  few  formed  themselves  into  bands 
for  bringing  the  sand,  and  how  many  weary  trips  they  made  over  these 
rugged  hills,  and  what  dangers  they  encountered  and  escapes  they  made. 


j5  history  of  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 

eternity  alone  can  now  reveal.  The  character  of  these  people  is  seen  in  the 
kind  of  work  they  did.  They  btiilded  not  only  for  present  needs,  but  pro- 
vided for  the  future.  The  mortar  which  cements  these  stones,  it  is  said, 
cannot  be  duplicated  by  our  workmen,  it  being  almost  as  hard  as  the  limestone 
which  it  holds.  This  building  was  dedicated  January  22,  1749.  At  this 
time  there  was  no  Presbytery  in  Virginia.  The  Valley  was  the  missionary 
ground  of  Donegal  Presbytery  in  Pennsylvania.  From  the  time  work  was 
begun  here  until  1758,  the  pastor  of  this  Church  and  his  elder  had  to  travel 
the  distance  of  "near  three  hundred  miles"  to  attend  the  meetings  of  Presb}^- 
tery. 

The  people  of  this  section  were  granted  much  liberty,  religiously,  in  order 
to  induce  immigrants  to  settle  here,  that  they  might  form  a  wall  of  protection 
against  the  Indians,  for  those  who  lived  in  East  and  Southside  Virginia. 
They  were  never  subjected  to  the  severe  trials  which  fell  to  the  lot  of 
Makemie,  Davies  and  others  in  that  part  of  Virginia  where  the  Church  of 
England  was  the  established  church. 

The  period  from  1753  to  1756  was  a  most  trying  one  for  the  people  of  the 
Valley.  The  Indians  and  the  French  were  causing  a  great  deal  of  trouble  on 
the  frontier.  This  section  felt  the  strain  also,  because  they  were  called  upon 
to  furnish  troops  to  resist  this  combined  force.  The  defeat  and  death  of  Gen. 
Braddock  in  1755,  caused  great  fear  to  take  hold  of  all  this  country,  because 
they  felt  that  without  this  protection  their  country  was  thrown  open  to  the 
enemy.  Many  who  had  money,  which  they  could  take  with  them,  "were  for 
flying  to  a  safer  pl-ace  of  the  country."  They  came  to  Dr.  Craig  for  advice, 
which  he  gave  with  unflinching  fidelity,  "opposing  that  scheme  as  a  scandal 
to  our  nation,  falling  below  our  brave  ancestors,  making  ourselves  a  reproach 
among  Virginians,  a  dishonor  to  our  friends  at  home,  an  evidence  of 
cowardice,  want  of  faith  and  a  noble  Christian  dependence  on  God  as  able 
to  save  and  deliver  from  the  heathen;  it  would  be  a  lasting  blot  to  our  pos- 
terity." 

After  thus  roundly  scoring  them,  he  advises  them  to  build  forts  sufficient 
to  hold  twenty  or  thirty  families,  in  the  different  parts  of  the  settlement  con- 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH.  1 7 

veiiient  to  these  groups.  One  of  these  forts  was  to  be  built  around  this 
Church.  'They  required  me  to  go  before  them,"  says  Dr.  Craig,  "in  the 
work,  which  I  did  cheerfuhy,  though  it  cost  me  fully  one-third  of  my  estate. 
The  people  very  readily  followed,  and  my  congregation  in  less  than  two 
months  was  well  fortified."  In  the  rear  of  the  Church,  and  on  part  of  one  side, 
a  ridge  may  still  be  seen  which  marks  the  foundation  and  shows  the  size  of 
the  old  fort. 

When  Hanover  Presbytery  was  formed  in  1755,  by  order  of  the  Synod 
of  New  York,  there  was  a  division  in  the  church,  of  which  Whitefield  was  the 
occasion.    The  parties  were  known  as  the  ''New  Side"  and  the  "Old  Side." 

Whitefield  was  very  earnest  and  zealous;  his  work  was  attended  with 
great  revivals.  The  more  conservative  regarded  these  revivals  with  sus- 
picion, fearing  the  consequence  of  so  much  excitement,  but  the  New  Side 
endorsed  him. 

It  was  not  till  1758,  when  these  two  factions  came  together,  that  Dr. 
Craig  became  a  member  of  Hanover  Presbytery,  for  this  body  had  been 
formed  of  New  Side  ministers.  So  far  as  I  can  learn,  this  Church  remained  a 
part  of  Hanover  Presbytery,  until  Lexington  Presbytery  was  organized  in 
1786. 

In  1760  Hanover  Presbytery  met  in  this  Church,  at  which  time  Mr.  James 
W^addell,  who  afterwards  became  so  famous,  was  taken  under  the  care  of 
Presbytery. 

Many  have  been  the  hallowed  associations  clustering  around  this  old 
building.  Dr.  Foote  says  in  his  Sketches  of  V^irginia,  "Let  us  walk  around 
this  house,  and  enjoy  the  beauty  of  the  prospect.  These  remains  of  the  forti- 
fications in  Indian  wars,  wasting  away  by  the  constant  tread  of  the  assembling 
congregations,  are  eloquent  memorials  of  the  early  ages  of  Augusta  county. 
This  old  house  has  seen  generations  pass ;  it  has  heard  the  sermons  of  the 
Synod  of  Virginia  in  its  youthful  days.  Could  these  walls  re-echo  the  sen- 
tences which  have  been  uttered  here,  what  a  series  of  sermons !  Its  three 
pastors,  for  about  one  hundred  years,  taught  from  the  same  pulpit.  Here  the 
venerated  Hoge  was  licensed  in  1781,  and  here  the  Rev.  Archibald  Alexander 


J 8  HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 

passed  some  of  his  trials  in  preparation  for  the  ministry.     In  no  other  house 
in  Virginia  can  such  recollections^ be  cherished  as  rise  up  around  us  here." 

Dr.  Craig  says  that  his  congregation  was  twenty  miles  wide,  and  thirty 
miles  long.  Who  can  estimate  the  influences  which  have  radiated  from  this 
Church  as  a  centre !  Within  the  scope  of  country  once  occupied  and  ministered 
to  by  Dr.  Craig  there  are  at  least  one  hundred  churches  of  different  denomina- 
tions. Two  main  reasons  may  be  given  why  so  many  other  denominations 
came  into  what  was  once  exclusively  Presbyterian  territory.  First,  After  the 
country  was  made  habitable  by  these  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians,  people  came 
here  from  many  parts  of  the  world  who  were  not  of  this  type  and  training. 
Second,  The  utterly  impossible  task  of  one  man  being  able  to  come  in  contact 
with  all  of  these,  and  to  attract  them  to  this  Church  and  hold  them  under  his 
influence. 

In  those  days  the  court  not  only  attended  to  affairs  of  State,  but  under- 
took to  regulate  the  home  and  the  individual.  Mr.  Waddell  says:  "In  1751 
we  find  an  order  from  the  court  for  making  a  'ducking  stool.'  This  was  the 
punishment  of  women  convicted  as  'common  scolds.'  There  is  no  record  of 
this  having  been  used,  not  because  they  lacked  scolding  women,  but  more 
likely  because  of  a  lack  of  water  enough  near  the  courthouse  to  duck  the 
offender." 

The  whipping-post  was  also  used  for  both  men  and  women. 

The  question  of  the  comparative  antiquity  of  this  Church  and  that  of 
Opequon,  it  seems  to  me,  is  settled  by  Foote  in  his  Sketches  of  Virginia.  He 
says  that  Rev.  John  Hoge  was  the  first  pastor  of  Opequon  Church.  He  gives 
the  date  of  his  graduation  from  Nassau  Hall  as  1748.  After  this  he  prepared 
for  the  ministry  under  the  care  of  Newcastle  Presbytery.  The  dates  of 
licensure  and  ordination  are  not  certainly  known,  the  records  of  the  Presbytery 
lor  that  period  being  lost,  but  he  appears  upon  the  roll  of  Synod  in  1755  for 
the  first  time. 

Dr.  Foote  further  says,  that  this  church  was  organized  by  him.  In  1748, 
the  first  mention  of  Mr.  Hoge,  he  w^as  only  a  graduate  from  college.  He 
must  have  had  at  least  three  years,  if  not  more,  in  preparation  for  the  min- 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH.  19 

istry,  which  would  make  it  1751  or  1752  when  he  had  finished  and  was  ready 
to  take  charge  of  the  Church.  .  The  probable  time  of  the  organization  was 
b.etween  1751,  when  it  is  supposed  that  he  completed  his  preparation,  and 
1755,  when  his  name  first  appears  upon  the  roll  of  Synod;  while  the  Augusta 
Church  was  organized  not  later  than  1740,  and  probably  as  early  as  1738. 
Dr.  Foote  says  of  Augusta  Church,  "This  is  the  oldest  house  of  worship  in  the 
Valley  of  Virginia." 

In  the  colonies  there  was  a  spirit  of  unrest,  owing  to  the  tyranny  of  the 
liome  government,  mutterings  of  the  storm  which  was  soon  to  burst  on  this 
fair  land.  We  can  well  imagine  the  spirit  which  was  aroused  in  these  Scotch- 
Irish  to  throw  off  the  yoke  of  oppression.  Not  only  was  the  State  preparing 
for  the  revolution,  but  the  Church  was  preparing  to  free  herself  from  the 
tyranny  of  the  Church  of  England,  which  was  the  established.  Church  in  this 
section.  This  oppression  had  become  simply  intolerable,  hence  we  find  the 
energy,  nerve,  and  piety  of  the  time,  contriving  plans  for  religious  liberty. 
This  Church  had  its  part  in  the  work. 

Dr.  Craig  was  one  of  those  present  in  1773,  when  his  "Presbytery  took 
the  bill  of  toleration  into  consideration."  This  was  Hanover  Presbytery,  to 
which  this  Church  belonged.  The  ministers  who  were  present  upon  this 
occasion  were  Craig,  Brown,  Leak  and  Irwin.  In  this  age,  when  perfect 
freedom  is  the  right  of  all,  we  can  scarcely  appreciate  the  condition  of  things 
when  this  was  not  the  case.  The  "Bill  of  Toleration,"  above  referred  to,  had 
reference  not  only  to  allowing  ministers  who  were  not  in  the  established 
Church  to  preach  the  Gospel  unmolested,  but  that  they  be  allowed  to  perform 
marriage  ceremonies.  According  to  the  laws  then  governing  these  people,  no 
one  was  regarded  as  legally  married,  who  had  not  been  married  by  one  of 
the  ministers  of  the  established  Church.  All  other  ministers  were  prohibited 
from  this. 

The  inconvenience  and  hardship  caused  by  this  law  was  very  great. 
Every  one  desiring  to  marry,  was  compelled  to  go  to  one  of  the  ministers  of 
this  Church,  or  pay  him  whatever  he  might  demand,  to  come  to  them.  The 
Presbytery  of  Hanover  labored  unceasingly,  sending  one  petition  after  an- 


20  HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 

other  to  the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia,  until,  step  by  step,  religious  freedom 
was  secured.  The  Augusta  Church  was  more  than  an  interested  spectator.  In 
1785  we  find  that  her  session  sent  to  Presbytery  a  petition  asking  that  it 
define  the  meaning  of  the  word  "liberal,  as  used  in  the  Presbytery's  memorial 
of  last  fall."  This  shows  the  careful  oversight  and  anxious  solicitude  of  our 
Church,  in  all  that  was  agitating  the  public  mind.  They  did  not  seek  preference 
in  this  matter,  but  desired  that  all  denominations  should  be  upon  a  level  in 
the  eyes  of  the  law.  Thus  we  have  some  idea  of  the  disturbed  condition  of 
this  period,  both  in  Church  and  State. 

The  firmness  of  character,  and  the  singleness  of  purpose  of  Dr.  Craig,  may 
be  seen  in  the  way  he  stood  the  assaults  made  upon  him  by  the  New  Side 
ministers  and  their  sympathizers.  Many  of  these  came  into  his  bounds 
preaching  their  doctrines  and  calling  him  "poor,  blind,  carnal,  hypocritical, 
damned  wretch."  "But  Providence  so  ordered  that  affair,  that  they  gained 
none  of  my  people  that  I  knew  of;  my  moral  character  stood  clear  and  even 
among  them." 

The  Lord  permitted  him  to  lead  his  people  through  the  conflicts  and  trials 
of  this  period  until  summoned  into  His  presence,  when  he  laid  down  his  armour 
as  a  soldier  of  the  cross,  having  fought  a  good  fight,  and  having  kept  the 
faith. 

Dr.  Craig  died  April  21,  1774.  The  following  is  the  inscription  upon 
his  tomb : 

Erected  by  G.  C,  Son  to  J.  C. 

In  Memory  Of 

The  Revd  JOHN  CRAIG,  D.  D., 

COMMENCER  : 

OF  The  PRESBYTERIAN  MINISTERIAL  SERVICE, 

In  this    PLACE, 

Ano  Domini,  1740, 

And  Faithfully  Discharged  His  Duty  In  the  Same. 

To  April  The  2i^t^  Ano  Domini,  1774, 

Then  Departed  This  Life  With  Fifteen  Hours  Affliction: 

From  The  Hand  of  The  GREAT  CREATOR. 

Aged  63  Years  And  4  Months. 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 


21 


Near  the  foot  of  the  large  slab  which  covers  his  grave  is  the  following : 

The  Church  of  Augusta  in  expression  of  their  Gratitude 
TO  the  Memory  of  their  late  beloved  Pastor  (having  obtained 
liberty  of  G.  C.)  paid  the  expense  of  this  Monument,  179S. 

In  both  of  the  foregoing  I  have  faithfully  preserved  the  spelling  and  all, 
just  as  it  is  on  the  tomb,  using  capital  letters  just  as  they  are  used  there. 

The  Church  was  vacant  from  1774,  until  Rev.  William  Wilson  was 
ordained  and  installed  pastor  in  November,  1780. 


CHAPTER  IT. 
Rev.  William  Wilson. 

MR.  WILSON  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  August  i,  175 1.  "His  father, 
James  Wilson,  an  emigrant  from  Ireland,  in  his  youth  was  a  hearer  of 
Mr.  Whitefield,  in  Philadelphia,  and  became  in  consequence,  a  hopeful 
convert  to  Christ.  When  about  forty  years  of  age  he  removed  to  Virginia, 
and  settled  about  twelve  miles  east  of  Lexington,  and  became  a  member  of 
New  Providence  Church.  His  devoted  piety  in  his  family,  and  his  intercourse 
with  his  fellow-men,  were  remarked  by  people  among  whom  professors  of 
religion  were  common." 

Mr.  William  Wilson  was  the  eldest  of  thirteen  children,  ten  boys  and 
three  girls.  Early  he  became  a  professor  of  religion,  and  joined  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  At  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  entered  upon  a  "course  of  liberal 
education,"  becoming  a  student  of  "Mount  Pleasant,  that  germ  of  Washing- 
ton College."  "He  soon  became  so  much  delighted  with  his  studies,  that 
hardly  anything  could  have  prevailed  on  him  to  relinquish  an  object  so  dear 
to  his  heart.  He  prosecuted  his  education  with  unusual  ardor,  diligence,  per- 
severance and  success,  and  soon  became  a  tutor  in  the  school  in  which  he 
learned  the  rudiments  of  Latin.  The  classics  and  mathematics  were  his  favorite 
studies  during  his  academical  course.  In  these  branches  his  proficiency  was 
rapid  and  thorough,  and  he  retained  his  early  partiality  for  them  through  life. 
Having  completed  his  academical  studies,  he  entered  on  the  study  of  Theology 
under  the  care  and  direction  of  the  Rev.  William  Graham,  an  eminently 
gifted  divine.  He  was  received  as  a  candidate  (under  the  care  of  Presbytery) 
April,  1779,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  October  28,  was  licensed  in 
Prince  Edward  county.  He  received  and  accepted  a  call  to  the  pastoral  charge 
of  Augusta  Church,  and  on  the  last  Wednesday  of  November,  1780,  was  or- 
dained and  installed.  The  Church  prospered  under  his  ministry,  and  was 
occasionally  blessed  with  precious   seasons  of   revival.      His  judgment  was 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 


23 


sound,  his  memory  retentive,  copious  and  prompt.  He  spoke  with  sufficient 
fluency;  but  the  modulation  of  his  voice  was  not  happy.  Few  pubhc  speakers 
indeed,  either  in  or  out  of  the  pulpit,  possess  the  faculty  of  giving  to  the 
voice  a  gratifying  variety  in  its  modulations.  A  soporific  monotony,  the 
bane  of  an  agreeable  and  impressive  delivery,  exists  to  a  deplorable  extent." 

This  extract  was  taken  from  Dr.  Wilson's  obituary  in  the  SontJiern 
Religious  (Telegraph,  published  January  i,  1836. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  objections  raised  to  the  average  public 
speaker  in  those  days,  I  do  not  think  these  faults  could  have  been  prominent 
in  Dr.  Wilson,  for  in  later  years  he  was  sought  more  frequently  than  any  one 
else  to  preach  before  Presbytery.  If  the  above  were  true  of  him,  the  Presby- 
tery would  not  have  punished  itself  so  frequently.  Any  one  familiar  with  the 
customs  of  Presbytery,  could  not  help  being  impressed  in  reading  its  Minutes, 
with  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  this  body.  The  positions  given  him, 
upon  the  committees  of  Presbytery,  show  the  estimate  which  his  brethren 
placed  upon  his  scholarship. 

Men  rarely  excel  in  more  than  one  department  of  learning.  Mr.  Wilson 
^vas  a  theologian,  but  especially  proficient  in  the  classics  and  mathematics. 
Indirectly  we  gain,  from  Minutes  of  Presbytery,  that  he  was  a  man  of  fine 
judgment,  not  only  in  things  ecclesiastical,  but  of  human  nature,  because  he 
was  appointed  by  Presbytery  to  adjust  differences  arising  in  some  of  the 
churches.  This  is  a  most  difficult  task,  requiring  rare  gifts.  The  reports  of 
Presbytery  show  that  he  was  very  successful.  For  many  years  he  was  a  man 
of  great  endurance,  and  was  filled  with  the  home  missionary  spirit.  The 
records  show -that  in  1788,  he  was  sent  to  the  Tygart's  Valley  River,  in  what 
is  now  Randolph  county,  W.  Va.  The  distance  from  Staunton  to  Huttons- 
ville,  on  the  Tygart's  Valley  River — where  evidently  he  preached — by  the 
Staunton  and  Parkersburg  Pike,  is  ninety-three  miles.  This  road  crosses  ten 
ranges  of  mountains,  two  of  which,  the  Cheat  and  the  Alleghany,  are  each 
eighteen  miles  across.  AVe  must  bear  in  mind,  in  estimating  these  labors,  that 
he  did  not  have  this  fine  road.  He  was  probably  one  of  the  first  to  carry  the 
Gospel  to  this  beautiful  but  newly-settled  country. 


24 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 


He  would  spend  from  two  to  four  Sabbaths  in  these  fields  when  he  was 
sent  on  such  tours.  Many  times  he  was  sent  to  what  is  now  Bath  county,  and 
to  Greenbrier,  and  as  far  as  the  city  of  Charleston,  W.  Va.  These  facts  show 
not  only  the  nature,  and  consecration,  and  fortitude  of  Dr.  Wilson,  but  also  the 
widening-  influence  of  this  Church,  of  which  he  was  pastor.  It  was  their 
contribution  to  home  missionary  work,  for  he  was  their  representative.  Almost 
all  of  Lexington  Presbytery's  work  in  West  Virginia,  has  radiated  from  the 
work  done  by  Dr.  Wilson  and  others  of  Lexington  Presbytery  on  the  Tygart's 
Valley  River. 

Through  the  influence  and  labors  of  the  pastor  of  Augusta  Church,  she 
has  stretched  another  hand  to  Greenbrier,  and  even  to  Kanawha  Valley.  I  do 
not  say  that  she  was  the  sole  instrument  in  this  work,  but  she  was  one  of  the 
main  contributors.  If  Virginia  was  called  the  "mother  of  statesmen,"  truly 
may  we  say  that  Augusta  Church  is  the  mother  of  churches.  Her  influence 
was  felt  in  Kentucky,  where  many  of  her  members  went  in  the  early  history  of 
this  country.  Near  Pendleton,  S.  C,  there  is  an  "Old  Stone  Church,"  evi- 
dently named  for  the  "Old  Augusta  Stone  Church,"  for  "among  its  builders 
M'ere  Capt.  James  and  Col.  Robert  Anderson,"  who  went  to  South  Carolina 
from  this  Church.  Both  of  these  gentlemen  were  officers  in  the  Revolutionary 
army.  To  the  many  names  of  the  famous  sons  of  this  Church  I  may  add  one 
more,  that  of  Capt.  Robert  Gamble,  "who  led  one  of  the  assailing  parties  at 
the  storming  of  Stony  Point.  He,  with  his  men,  mounted  the  wall  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  a  cannon,  and  seeing  the  match  about  to  be  applied, 
barely  had  time  to  lower  his  head,  and  order  his  men  to  fall  flat,  before  the 
gun  was  discharged.  He  was,  however,  permanently  deafened  by  the  con- 
cussion." 

Eternity  alone  will  reveal  the  full  influence  which  has  radiated  from  this 
old  Church,  both  in  Church  and  State.  From  the  organization  of  Lexington 
Presbytery  in  1786,  we  begin  to  find  mention  of  the  names  of  the  elders  of  this 
Church.  The  reason  that  the  records  of  Presbytery  have  been  so  carefully 
studied  to  obtain  facts  about  this  Church  is,  that  the  j\Iinutes  of  Session  for  a 
period  of  about  one  hundred  years  were  destroyed  by  fire.     Some  of  the  names 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH.  25 

mentioned  in  records  of  Presbytery  were  elders  while  Dr.  Craig  was  pastor. 
We  ha^T  evidence  of  one,  who  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Church, 
and  who  at  that  time  was  elected  elder.  This  was  Dr.  Robert  Curry,  who 
was  a  native  of  Londonderry,  Ireland,  and  came  here  with  the  pioneers,,  and 
settled  about  six  miles  northwest  of  the  Church,  where  he,  and  his  son  Samuel, 
and  grandson  Robert  A.  all  lived.  Dr.  Curry  was  succeeded  in  the  eldership 
by  Samuel,  and  Samuel  was  succeeded  by  Robert,  thus  making  a  continuous 
line  in  the  eldership  from  the  organization  of  the  Church,  in  one  family,  until 
the  death  of  Mr.  Robert  Addison  Curry,  in  February,  1898,  he  having  served 
the  Church  for  fifty-three  years. 

There  appears  upon  the  Minutes  of  Presbytery,  as  delegates  from  this 
Church,  the  names  of  James  Allen,  in  1788,  John  Campbell,  1790;  Joseph  Bell, 
1802;  Jacob  Van  Lear,  1804.  The  Minutes  show  that  this  Church  was  repre- 
sented in  the  General  Assembly  in  1791,  by  Rev.  Wm.  Wilson  and  Elder 
John  Campbell,  and  in  1804  by  Elder  William  Bell;  John  Dennison's  name 
appears  in  1809. 

Dr.  Wilson's  health  became  impaired,  caused  by  erysipelas  in  the  head. 
At  some  times  during  this  sickness  he  in  great  measure  "lost  the  memory  of 
his  mother  tongue.  He  could  not  give  the  name  of  anything  he  wanted  in 
English,  but  could  readily  give  it  in  Greek  or  Latin." 

In  1 8 10,  Dr.  Wilson  requested  Presbytery  to  dissolve  his  pastoral  relation 
with  this  Church.  His  health  being  so  much  affected  by  this  disease,  he  did 
not  feel  that  he  could  perform  the  duties  of  the  office.  From  18 10,  until  1813, 
the  Church  was  without  a  pastor,  but  was  supplied  in  181 1  and  1812  by  Rev. 
Jehab  Graham.  Dr.  Wilson  lived  upon  the  hill  south  of  the  Church.  His 
house  stood  near  where  the  residence  of  Mr.  T.  A.  Jordan  now  stands.  Dr. 
Wilson  has  many  descendants,  some  of  whom  are  members  of  this  Church,  and 
one,  Mr.  Edward  ]\IcKim  McCue,  a  great-grandson,  is  now  an  elder. 

While  Dr.  Wilson  was  not  able  to  perform  the  full  duties  of  the  pastor, 
frequent  reference  is  made  to  his  being-  appointed  to  fill  vacancies,  and  to  do 
some  missionary  work.  His  life  was  extended  through  nearly  the  whole  of 
Dr.  Speece's  pastorate ;  frequently  during  this  time,  he  preached  for  the  people 
of  his  old  charge,  and  always  with  great  acceptance. 


26  HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 

Dr.  Speece,  in  preaching  his  funeral,  "spoke  of  the  last  discourse  which 
he  heard  him  preach  at  eighty-four,  as  not  inferior  either  in  vigor  of  thought, 
methodical  arrangement,  or  animation  of  manner,  to  any  that  he  ever  heard 
him  preach.  Also,  with  evident  emotion,  he  spoke  of  the  prudent,  courteous 
and  affectionate  deportment  of  his  predecessor  towards  himself,  and  said  he 
would  cherish  a  grateful  remembrance  of  it  whilst  he  breathed."  Dr.  Wilson 
died  December  i,  1835,  and  was  buried  in  the  old  cemetery.  The  folio  wing- 
is  the  inscription  upon  his  tomb  : 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Rev.  WM.  WILSON, 

Second  Pastor  of  Augusta  Church. 
He  was  a  man  of  native  talent, 
Of  attainments  not  inconsiderable; 
Of  conciliatory  manners: 
Of  pure  morals : 

And  an  Orthodox,  Able,  Minister 
of  the  New  Testament. 

Born  Aug.  ist,  1751. 

Died  Dec.  ist,  1835. 

Aged  84  Yrs.,  4  Mos. 


''jA-'-\v- ■-:■''  '  /  I:  ',■  -'-■■-  .iiB.J;>i*/'-Jj;!'.5'  >i:*iK>;*^-r^-£^Xf,'sJi 

m     ^^ 

^ 

1 

J.                             ^^^^^^H 

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n 

WHBF^'  -  ^^^  ^- am 

^R^'  j-^Ss^^S^SI^^^^Sl^tL 

^^H^^ 

-j^i.'JttiK^^Mfy  ^  ttTMIi^^I^B^^-^^^B^B 

B 

li9|Uj^W;.<e:^rVt  n<*  -Hm^.^* 

REV.    CONRAU  SPEECE,    D.    D. 


CHAPTER  III. 
Rev.  Conrad  Speece,  D.  D. 

REV.  CONRAD  SPEECE  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  AugTista  Church 
October  i,  1813.  Mr.  Alexander  Nelson  represented  this  Church  in 
Presbytery  when  this  call  was  placed  in  his  hands.  He  was  installed 
October  16,  18 13,  by  Revs.  Wm.  Wilson,  Wni.  Calhoun,  Jno.  McCue  and  Geo. 
Brown,  a  committee  of  Lexington  Presbytery. 

Dr.  Speece  was  "of  German  origin,  though  entirely  English  in  his  edu- 
cation. He  used  frequently  to  call  himself  'the  old  Dutchman.'  "  "My  father's 
name  was  Conrad  Speece,  son  of  Conrad  Speece,  who  emigrated  to  this  country 
from  Germany.  My  mother's  maiden  name  was  Ann  Catherine  Turner.  I 
was  born  in  New  London,  Va.,  November  7,  1776.  My  parents  were  poor, 
but  honest  and  industrious  people.  My  parents  sent  me  several  years,  in  my 
childhood,  to  a  common  school,  where  I  learned  reading,  writing  and  arith- 
metic. They  also  instructed  me  early  in  religion."  "Samuel  Brown,  after- 
wards pastor  of  New  Providence,  was  one  of  his  early  teachers.  Having 
formed  a  high  estimate  of  the  boy's  capacity,  he  wrote  to  his  father,  urging 
him  to  send  his  son  Conrad  to  the  grammar  school  near  New  London.  This 
request,  declined  by  the  father  on  account  of  his  narrow  circumstances,  made 
an  impression  of  lasting  influence  on  the  boy.  Some  months  afterwards  Mr. 
Edward  Graham,  the  teacher  of  the  grammar  school,  'offered  to  give  me 
tuition  for  four  years,  on  condition  of  my  assisting  him  in  teaching  as  soon 
as  I  should  become  capable,  and  until  the  end  of  that  period.  My  grandmother 
Speece,  in  New  London,  offered  to  furnish  my  boarding  on  moderate  terms. 
On  this  plan,  I  entered  the  school  in  November,  1792.  At  first  the  Latin  lan- 
guage was  very  irksome  to  me,  but  soon  became  easy.'  He  committed  the 
grammar  with  great  readiness,  but  as  a  matter  of  memory.  There  was  no 
pleasure  in  the  effort  to  apply  the  forms  and  rules  to  the  examples  of  the  first 


30  HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 

Latin  book.  Mr.  Graham  encouraged  him,  and  comphmented  the  progress 
he  was  making.  One  day,  while  looking-  over  the  forms  in  the  grammar,  and 
getting  almost  weary  of  his  occupation,  the  whole  matter  seemed  to  open  to 
him  in  a  twinkling,  like  the  drawing  of  a  curtain,  or  awaking  out  of  sleep; 
and  he  saw  at  once  the  meaning  of  the  forms,  and  the  design  of  the  rules  he 
had  been  storing  in  his  retentive  memory.  After  that,  the  acquisition  of  Latin 
was  a  delightful  exercise.  For  a  time  his  teachers  knew  not  what  to  think 
of  young  Speece.  On  went  his  recitations,  rapid  without  pausing,  sentence 
after  sentence,  with  the  same  cheerfulness  and  ease  he  had  followed  the  plow 
unwearied,  from  rising  to  setting  sun." 

"Li  February,  1795,  my  excellent  mother  died.  This  caused  me  to  re- 
solve that  I  would  seek  religion."  He  found  many  difficulties  in  his  way,  and 
at  one  time  was  on  the  verge  of  infidelity,  when  some  one  placed  in  his  hands 
Jenyn's  Internal  Evidences  and  Bcattic's  Evidences.  ''These,"  he  says,  "fully 
convinced  me  of  the  truth  of  Christianity."  He  attended  Liberty  Hall,  spend- 
ing his  leisure  hours  in  the  study  of  the  law.  The  delight  in  his  studies,  and 
the  influence  of  light  ungodly  companions  turned  him,  for  a  time,  from  his 
purpose  of  becoming  a  Christian.  "At  length,  in  the  course  of  the  autumn 
of  1795'  I  was  enabled  to  cast  myself,  with  mingled  joy  and  trembling,  by 
faith,  on  the  rich  mercy  of  God  in  Christ  for  salvation,  and  to  devote  myself 
to  His  service.  In  the  ensuing  winter  I  resolved  to  engage,  God  willing,  in 
the  ministry  of  the  Gospel.  In  April,  1796,  I  was  received  into  the  commu- 
nion of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  New  Monmouth."  In  September,  1796, 
he  was  received  under  the  care  of  Lexington  Presbytery  as  a  candidate  for  the 
ministry,  and  was  assigned  his  trial  pieces.  In  October  he  received  his  degree 
B.  A.  at  Liberty  Hall.  In  the  spring  of  1797  he  passed  his  trials  for  licensure, 
and  the  trials  for  ordination  were  given  him.  He  studied  Theology  with  Rev. 
Wm.  Graham.  While  preparing  for  ordination  he  became  troubled  about 
infant  baptism.  He  studied  the  question  carefully,  but  nothing  relieved  his 
mind  of  doubts.  Fie  says,  "In  April,  1798,  the  Presbytery,  after  accepting 
my  pieces  of  trial,  desired  of  me  an  account  of  my  difficulties  on  baptism. 
They  treated  me  in  a  friendly  manner,  and  desired  me  to  attend  their  next 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 


31 


meeting.  In  the  meantime  my  licensure  was  necessarily  suspended."  He  gave 
up  his  position  as  tutor  at  Liberty  Hall,  and  went  home  to  work  on  his  father's 
farm.    In  this  way  he  regained  his  health. 

In  1799  Rev.  Archibald  Alexander,  president  of  Hampden-Sidney  Col- 
lege, called  to  see  him  for  the  purpose  of  securing  him  as  tutor  in  college. 
"He  found  him  engaged  in  the  hardest  of  farming  work,  running  a  ditch  to 
drain  a  portion  of  his  father's  farm."  His  studies  in  baptism  during  this 
period  resulted  in  his  being  immersed.  He  immediately  began  the  preaching 
of  the  Gospel.  He  remained  in  this  connection  just  one  year.  In  the  mean- 
time, all  of  his  doubts  as  to  the  scriptural  mode  of  baptism  being  by  pouring 
or  sprinkling,  and  not  by  immersion,  were  removed,  and  he  became  a  veritable 
champion  of  the  mode  which  he  had  once  opposed.  In  April,  1801,  he  re- 
turned to  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  became  a  member  of  Hanover  Pres- 
bytery. "Having  read  before  the  Presbytery  a  discourse  on  baptism  by  way 
of  trial,  they  licensed  me  to  preach  the  Gospel."  Thus,  you  see,  he  not  only 
satisfied  his  own  mind,  but  also  the  mind  of  the  Presbytery,  because  they 
licensed  him  at  once.  He  seems  to  have  been  utterly  unconcerned  about  public 
criticism.  It  is  said  of  him  while  teaching  at  Hampden-Sidney,  that  "often, 
in  his  room,  he  might  have  been  seen  without  coat,  vest,  shoes  or  stockings 
engaged  at  his  books,  attired  as  for  hay-making,"  and  he  would  often  start 
to  his  class-room  in  this  plight,  when  the  bell  would  ring.  The  hints  which 
he  has  given  us  of  his  own  life,  are  sufiicient  to  show  us  the  traits  of  character 
which  made  him  the  great  man  he  afterwards  became.  He  was  perfectly 
honest  with  himself,  simple  in  manner,  sincere,  and  a  lover  of  the  truth.  The 
account  of  the  installation  given  in  the  Minutes  of  Presbytery,  does  not  agree 
with  that  in  Footc's  Sketches.  Dr.  Foote  does  not  mention  the  name  of  Rev. 
Wm.  Wilson,  as  having  anything  to  do  with  it.  The  omission  in  the 
"Sketches"  is  evidently  wrong. 

From  1 80 1,  when  he  gave  up  his  work  as  tutor  in  college,  until  he  was 
called  to  this  Church  in  18 13,  Dr.  Speece  was  preaching  in  Virginia  and 
Maryland.  He  rose  rapidly  in  the  esteem  of  his  brethren.  He  was  many 
times  moderator  of  Presbytery,  and  moderator  of  the  Synod  of  Virginia  in 


22  HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 

the  years  1810,  1813,  1817,  1825  and  1835.  I  do  not  suppose  this  can  be 
said  of  any  other  man,  for  it  is  an  honor  conferred  upon  but  few,  and  seldom 
but  once.  He  frequently  represented  the  Presbytery  in  the  General  Assembly. 
From  this  time,  the  Minutes  of  Presbytery  begin  to  show  the  membership  of 
the  churches,  and  the  amounts  the  churches  gave  to  the  different  causes. 

In  1816,  Augusta  Church  reported  180  members.  At  the  same  time 
Staunton  reported  51,  and  was  joined  with  Brown's  Meeting  House,  now 
Hebron,  in  one  pastoral  charge;  Bethel  reported  136.  In  1817,  Union  Church 
was  organized  with  a  membership  of  44.  At  the  same  meeting,  Augusta 
reported  165.  The  falling  off  is  evidently,  mainly  accounted  for  in  the  organi- 
zation of  Union  Church,  which  was  once  a  part  of  Augusta.  In  those  days  it 
did  not  require  a  Commission  of  Presbytery  to  organize  a  church.  Some  one 
would  organize  it,  and  then  it  would  ask  to  be  admitted  into  the  Pres- 
bytery. Owing  to  this  fact,  and  to  the  way  the  Minutes  were  kept,  we  have 
no  way  of  telling  accurately,  how  largely  this  Church  was  drawn  upon  in  the 
organization  of  those  churches  which  have  grown  within  the  territory  once 
occupied  by  it. 

In  1820  Mossy  Creek  reported  100  members.  In  1824  Augusta  204, 
and  in  1825  she  reported  214.  Tinkling  Spring,  139.  This  old  Church  not 
only  claims  priority  in  age,  but  that  under  the  leadership  of  such  men  as 
Craig,  Wilson  and  Speece,  she  stood  in  the  front  rank  in  point  of  numbers, 
and  in  all  the  advance  movements  of  those  days.  Her  influence  was  felt  in 
the  establishment  of  Union  Theological  Seminary.  Frequent  mention  is  made 
in  the  INIinutes  of  Presbytery  of  her  gifts  to  this  cause. 

It  is  not  difficult  to  imagine  the  interest  which  Dr.  Speece  took  in  this 
institution.  He  was  born  in  the  same  county  with,  and  about  one  year  before, 
Dr.  John  Holt  Rice,  who  founded  Union  Theological  Seminary  in  1824. 
Both  of  them  were  poor,  and  both  had  to  struggle  hard  for  their  education. 
"They  were  associated  as  tutors  in  college,  and  maintained  for  each  other  a 
warm  friendship  through  life."  In  1832  Augusta  Church  gave  to  the  Semi- 
nary $144. 

There  are  many  amusing  things  told  about  Dr.  Speece.     He  was  a  very 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 


33 


large  man,  and  upon  one  occasion  went  to  a  tailor  to  have  some  clothes  made. 
The  tailor  said  that  he  thought  he  could  fit  him.  Dr.  Speece  said  that  was 
just  what  he  did  not  want.  He  wore  his  coat  so  loose,  that  he  could  take  two 
children  within  its  spacious  belt,  and  then  have  some  to  spare.  One  of  these 
little  ones,  who  was  thus  taken  within  the  compass  of  his  coat  while  Dr. 
Speece  was  in  it,  is  now  an  honored  professor  in  one  of  our  Universities. 
Where  Dr.  Speece  boarded,  he  would  not  allow^  any  noise  during  the  fore- 
noon, but  after  dinner  he  was  ready  for  a  romp  with  the  children,  often  run- 
ning with  a  child  clinging  around  each  leg.  He  was  a  great  reader.  Often  he 
would  be  found  sitting  on  his  horse,  absorbed  in  reading,  oblivious  of  the  fact 
that  his  horse  was  grazing  by  the  roadside.  He  gave  the  name  "Hill  country 
of  Judea."  to  that  portion  of  his  field  west  of  the  Valley  Pike,  and  it  will 
always  be  known  by  that  name.  The  picture  given  by  Dr.  Foote  of  Dr. 
Speece's  installation  will  give  a  good  idea  of  the  gatherings  in  those 
clays. 

The  installation  was  to  be  on  Saturday,  and  the  communion  on  Sunday. 
It  was  their  custom  upon  communion  occasions  to  have  preaching  on  Friday 
and  Saturday  preceding-,  and  Monday  and  Tuesday  succeeding  communion 
Sunday.  Business  was  suspended,  and  their  time  and  attention  was  given  to 
this  one  thing.  They  did  not  think  that,  too  much  time  to  spend  in  these  sacred 
services.    The  description  given  by  Dr.  Foote  is  as  follows : 

"The  public  services  began,  as  usual,  on  Friday  at  the  old  grove- 
embowered  Church  fort.  The  pastor-elect  preached  from  Heb.  xii.  1 5  :  'Look- 
ing diligently  lest  any  man  fail  of  the  grace  of  God;  lest  any  root  of  bitter- 
ness springing  up  trouble  you,  and  thereby  many  be  deceived.'  On  Saturday 
came  the  installation  services. 

"The  pastor  of  Tinkling  Spring,  Rev.  John  jNIcCue,  many  of  whose  charge 
were  accustomed  to  worship  here  in  former  days,  came  along  to  preach  on  the 
Sabbath;  also  Wm.  Calhoun,  the  minister  of  Staunton  and  Brown's  Meeting 
House,  whose  charge  embraced  a  portion  of  those  on  Lewis'  Creek,  and  those 
in  Staunton  that  once  made  part  of  the  'Triple  Forks,'  and  still  in  their 
affection  clung  to  the   Stone   Church.     From  Mossy   Creek  and  Jenning's 


24  HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 

Gap,  the  scene  in  succeeding  years  of  the  labors  of  Hendron,  and  from  the 
South  River  down  towards  Port  RepubHc,  with  their  minister,  Georg-e  Bourne, 
the  talented  and  the  erring,  the  people  came  as  in  the  times  when  their  fathers 
and  themselves,  when  children,  fled  to  the  fort  for  safety,  and  came  on  Sabbath 
to  worship.  The  hill  was  full  of  horses  and  people ;  not  a  carriage  there.  You 
could  see  the  people  coming  from  every  direction,  as  the  highways  were  not 
fenced  in  as  at  this  day,  in  groups  of  smaller  or  larger  companies;  here  a 
family  all  on  horseback,  the  father  with  a  child  behind  him  and  one  in  his 
arms,  and  the  mother  equally  balanced,  moving  slowly  along;  another  with 
his  wife  upon  a  pillion,  and  a  child  on  the  pommel  of  his  saddle ;  and  then  some 
young  people  that  had  met  accidentally  on  the  road,  or  had,  perhaps,  gone  a 
little  out  of  their  way  on  some  pretence,  came  riding  up  in  the  unpretending 
gallantry  of  independent  mountaineers.  The  congregation  retired,  some  to 
their  homes,  and  visitors  with  their  friends  to  pass  the  night.  On  communion 
seasons,  and  particularly  on  this,  all  houses  were  opened  for  friends,  and  all 
common  business  suspended,  and  all  families  gave  themselves  up  to  hospitality 
and  devotion.  People  felt  free  to  talk  on  religious  subjects,  and  review  the 
dealings  of  the  Lord  with  them,  and  to  inquire  for  the  right  way.  Often  on 
such  occasions  the  anxious  soul,  for  the  first  time,  spoke  of  its  fears  and  its 
desires  after  salvation.  On  Sabbath  morning  at  an  earlier  hour  the  families 
assembled.  What  a  sight  of  beauty  and  solemnity  all  around !  the  mountains 
and  hills  and  forest-covered  plains,  all  in  the  gorgeous  dress  of  frosty  yet 
mild  October;  and  the  old  fort  hill  thickening  with  men  and  women  coming 
to  worship  God.  The  voice  of  singing  and  of  prayer  is  heard  from  the  old 
Church  echoing  among  the  trees.  Had  a  warm-hearted  inhabitant  from  the 
North  of  Ireland  been  brought,  like  Ezekiel  in  vision,  to  stand  upon  the  hill, 
he  would  have  recognized  the  cadence  and  the  melody  of  his  ancestors,  and 
joined  in  the  sacred  old  tune  he  had  so  often  sung;  he  would  never  have 
asked  if  this  were  a  sacrament,  but  have  looked  around  for  the  ministers,  and 
for  the  tables,  whether  they  were  in  the  Church  or  at  the  tent  in  the  church- 
yard. And  there,  in  the  capacious  seats  around  the  pulpit  and  the  reading 
desk,  were  the  ministers  for  the  occasion;    and  the  elders  of  the  Church; 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH.  35 

Wilson,  the  retired  pastor,  tall,  spare,  erect,  warm  in  feeling,  earnest  in  de- 
livery, lifting  np  his  voice  like  a  trumpet,  in  his  excitement;  McCue,  short, 
full  set,  of  a  ruddy  countenance,  pleasant  and  earnest  in  his  services;  and 
Calhoun,  of  middle  size,  spare,  with  high  cheek  l^ones,  in  appearance  and 
manner,  and  delivery  of  his  message,  much  resembling  John  B.  Smith,  of 
Hampden-Sidney,  under  whose  ministry  he  came  into  the  church ;  and  the 
newly-installed  pastor,  tall,  scpiare-shouldered,  athletic,  as  mild  in  his  de- 
meanor as  strong  in  his  manhood.  First,  the  sermon  on  the  death  of  Christ, 
and  its  blessed  fruits  in  the  salvation  of  sinners  through  faith.  Then  the 
fencing  of  the  tables,  warning  the  unprepared,  the  impenitent  and  faithless  to 
keep  back  from  the  table  of  the  Lord,  and  not  to  touch  the  holy  emblems. 
Then  the  consecrating  prayer,  and  the  hymn  and  the  serving  of  the  first  table 
with  the  bread  and  wine,  and  an  address  on  some  exciting  subject  of  the  Gospel 
hope  or  faith.  And  after  the  elements  have  been  passed  down  the  long  table3, 
extending  to  the  right  and  left  of  the  pulpit,  the  length  of  the  house,  covered 
with  white  linen,  and  seated  on  either  side  with  communicants,  and  the  guests 
have  been  indulged  in  meditation  and  devotion,  another  hymn ;  and  then 
another  company  of  guests  came  out  of  the  crowd  to  take  the  place  of  those 
retiring  from  the  tables,  served  by  the  new  pastor.  Another  minister  waits 
on  these  with  the  elements ;  and  an  address,  and  with  singing,  these  retire  for 
others;  and  thus  table  after  table  is  served  till  all  in  the  large  assembly  who 
have  on  Saturday  or  Sabbath  morning,  or  some  previous  time  received  from 
the  officers  of  the  Church  a  token  of  admission,  have  received  the  communion. 
The  passing  hours  are  not  carefully  noted ;  the  solemn  devotions  of  God's 
people  must  not  be  disturbed  or  hurried,  or  the  decencies  of  religious  habits 
and  belief  shocked  by  the  rushing  to  the  commnnion  from  sudden  impulse,  or 
coming  burdened  with  unworthiness  that  could  not  meet  the  eye  of  the  elder 
and  minister.  Then  came  the  closing  hymn,  and  the  prayer  and  giving  thanks, 
and  the  solemn  address  to  those  who  had  not  approached  the  Lord  in  penitence 
and  faith.  On  Monday  the  pastor  preached,  as  usual,  on  such  occasions,  a 
sermon  calculated  to  cherish  the  impressions  made  on  the  minds  of  the  people 
by  the  services  of  the  preceding  days." 


36  HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 

It  is  well  for  lis  who  live  in  the  whirl  and  bustle  of  this  advanced  age,  to 
dwell  upon  scenes  such  as  Dr.  poote  has  described  and  take  our  bearings. 
The  reader  will  gain  a  better  idea  of  the  descriptions  of  these  services  if  he 
will  refer  to  the  cut  of  the  interior  of  the  Church.  As  you  stand  in  the  right 
aisle  facing  the  pulpit  as  it  now  is,  the  old  high  pulpit,  with  sounding  board 
above  it,  was  almost  immediately  behind  the  stove  on  the  right.  The  reading 
desk  was  in  front  of  the  old  pulpit.  The  right  aisle  is  the  one  referred  to  by 
Dr.  Foote  as  running  the  length  of  the  building,  and  in  which  the  long  tables 
were  placed.  Standing  with  your  back  to  the  old  pulpit  and  facing  south,  you 
will  notice  an  odd-looking  window  on  the  opposite  side  from  you.  This 
formed  part  of  a  double  door,  which  used  to  be  the  niain  entrance.  From  this 
double  door  in  the  south,  running  to  the  old  pulpit  in  the  north,  and  inter- 
secting the  long  aisle,  tradition  says,  that  they  placed  a  table  in  this  aisle  also, 
and  they  divided  the  communion  set  into  three  ecjual  parts,  a  pitcher,  plate 
and  goblets,  with  their  stands  for  each,  of  the  three  divisions  of  the  tables, 
viz.,  to  the  right,  left  and  front  of  the  old  pulpit. 

The  "token"  which  was  used  at  this  time,  was  a  small  piece  of  copper  with 
the  letters  "J.  C,  A.  C,"  evidently  being  the  initial  letters  of  "Jo^^^i  Craig, 
Augusta  Church."  It  was  necessary  for  those  who  wanted  to  commune,  cer- 
tainly the  members  of  this  Church,  to  get  one  of  these  tokens.  The  conditions 
under  which  they  secured  this  permit,  indicate  the  careful  oversight  which  the 
pastor  and  elders  had  of  the  members.  They  held  these,  to  be  given  to  those 
who  were,  in  their  judgment,  worthy  to  commune.  To  pass  judgment  upon 
this  question  they  must  have  had  a  very  intimate  acquaintance  with  each  one. 
How  strange  would  it  seem  to  this  generation  to  witness  this  now !  Dr. 
Speece  was  pastor  of  this  Church  for  more  than  twenty-two  years.  He  had 
some  warnings  of  his  approaching  end  and  of  its  nature,  having  had  symptoms 
of  apoplexy.  He  died  from  this  cause  at  the  home  of  Mr.  Allen,  where  Mr. 
Frank  Bell  now  lives.    He  was  buried  by  the  Nelsons  in  the  old  cemetery. 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH.  37 


Sacred 

To  THE  MEMORY  OF  THE 

Rev.  CONRAD  SPEECE,  D.  D., 

For  MORE  THAN  22  YRS.  PaSTOR 

OF  Augusta  Church. 
Born  Nov.  7TH,  1776.     Died  Feb.  15,  1S36. 
He  consecrated  a  mind 
Rich  in  genious  and  Learing 
To  the  service  of  his  Savior 
In  the  great  work  of  the  sacred 
Ministry.     And  here  sleeps 
with  his  people  till  they 
Shall  all  stand  before  the  judgment 
of  Christ. 

Reader ! 
If  in  his  life  he  tried  to  save 
Hear  him  at  last,  O  !  hear  him 
from  the  grave. 


This  stone  is  erected  in  token 

of  affection  that  can  know  no  end. 

Nearly  one  century  of  the  history  of  this  Church  was  made  under  the  pas- 
toral care  of  three  of  God's  servants.  The  principles  which  led  to  the  establish- 
ing of  this  Church  have  steadily  moved  on,  while  one  generation  after  another 
has  come  upon  the  scene,  been  influenced  by  them,  and  have  passed  away,  the 
principles  living  and  influencing  all  who  come  under  their  sway.  Thus  we  find 
the  Church  of  God  is  never  dependent  upon  any  one  man  for  its  success. 


CHAPTER  TV. 
Dr.  William  Brown. 

DR.  WILLIAM  BROWN  was  the  next  pastor  of  Augusta  Church,  being 
installed  in  October,  1836.  "He  was  descended  from  brave  and  pious 
ancestors,  one  of  whom,  on  the  maternal  side,  was  an  emigrant  from  the  North 
of  Ireland,  a  settler  in  the  county  of  Rockbridge,  an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  subsequently  slain  by  the  Indians.  His  wife  and  two  daughters 
were  carried  in  captivity  as  far  north  as  Canada,  and  those  who  have  read  The 
Captives  of  Abb's  Valley  have  been  thrilled  by  the  narrative  of  the  tragic  death 
of  the  mother  and  one  daughter,  and  of  the  rescue  and  return  of  the  other  to 
Virginia.  This  was  Mary  Moore,  who  became  the  wife  of  Rev.  Samuel 
Brown,  and  the  mother  of  Dr.  William  Brown.  Of  the  six  sons  of  these 
parents  four  became  ministers  of  the  Gospel  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Dr. 
William  Brown,  the  fourth  of  these  sons,  was  born  in  the  county  of  Rock- 
bridge, September  11,  181 1,  and  was  received  into  the  church  of  which  his 
father  was  pastor,  when  he  was  ten  3^ears  of  age.  He  graduated  at  Washington 
College  in  April,  1830.  In  1832  he  went  to  Princeton  Theological  Seminary. 
In  1835  he  was  licensed  by  Lexington  Presbyterv  and  spent  the  winter  fol- 
lowing at  Union  Seminary,  in  Prince  Edward  county."  The  occasion  upon 
which  Dr.  Brown  was  ordained  was  remarkable  from  the  fact  that  two  other 
men  were  ordained  at  the  same  time  and  place.  The  ordination  of  these 
brethren  took  place  at  Augusta  Church.  Dr.  Brown  was  ordained  and 
installed  pastor  of  this  Church,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Brown  and  Mr.  Alexander 
B.  McCorkle  were  ordained  evangelists.  In  those  days  Presbytery  often  ad- 
journed its  sessions  in  the  Church  to  meet  at  some  private  residence.  On  this 
occasion,  during  their  meeting,  they  adjourned  from  the  Church  to  meet  at 
the  residence  of  Mr.  James  Allen,  an  elder  of  this  Church.  The  house  of  Mr. 
Allen  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr.  Frank  R.  Bell.     It  was  in  this  house 


REV.  WILLIAM  BROWN,   D.   D. 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH.  4I 

that  Rev.  Mr.  McCorkle  stood  his  examination  for  ordination.  Dr.  Brown 
entered  upon  his  ministry  here  in  Octoher,  1836.  The  Church  had  heen 
vacant  since  February  15th.  the  date  of  Dr.  Speece's  death. 

It  was  the  custom  to  have  morning  and  afternoon  service  at  the  Church. 
The  people  coming  long  distances  would  bring  their  dinners  and  spend  most 
of  the  day,  as  their  fathers  had  done.  Frecjuent  mention  is  made  of  meetings 
of  the  session  during  the  interval  between  morning  and  afternoon  service. 
The  session  house  was  built  upon  the  north  side  of  the  Church,  immediately 
back  of  where  the  old  high  pulpit  used  to  be.  There  was  an  entrance  from 
this  into  the  Church  at,  or  near,  the  pulpit.  The  design  in  putting  it  this  way 
was,  that  thev  might  use  it  as  a  kitchen  if  the  fort  should  be  besieged  by  the 
Indians.  Doubtless,  also,  it  was  for  the  convenience  of  the  pastor,  that  he 
might  pass  immediately  from  the  session  house  to  the  pulpit.  If  the  pastor 
did  not  return  to  his  home  during  the  intermission  between  the  services, 
which  was  not  likely  in  the  case  of  Drs.  Craig  and  Speece,  who  lived  at  least 
five  miles  from  here,  it  was  necessary  that  he  have  some  place  of  seclusion  to 
prepare  for  the  service  of  the  afternoon.  It  is  probable,  then,  that  the  session 
house  was  built  against  the  church,  and  at  this  particular  place,  for  the  pastor's 
convenience  as  a  study,  as  well  as  for  the  purpose  above  mentioned. 

This  house  was  removed  from  its  time-honored  position  to  its  present 
location  in  1847.  ^^^  the  Minutes  of  Session  for  January  2,  1848,  mention  is 
made  of  session  meeting  in  session  house  and  being  able  to  have  fire.  Records 
of  meetings  in  the  open  air  and  at  the  Church  door  were  made  several  times 
prior  to  this,  which  was  evidently  during  the  time  of  tearing  away  of  the  old 
and  building  of  the  "new  session  house."  Just  here,  before  mentioning  the 
subsequent  change  made  in  the  Church  building,  it  will  be  well  to  introduce 
an  extract  from  the  ]\Iinutes  which  will  give  us  an  insight  into  their  mode  of 
worship  and  the  spirit  of  the  times : 

"Augusta  ClnircJi,  Max  16,  1844. — Session  met  by  a  call  from  the  pastor, 
and  was  opened  with  prayer.  Present,  the  pastor  and  elders  Allen,  Van 
Lear,  Gamble,  Craig  and  Nelson.  A  petition  having  been  presented  to  the 
session  signed  by  some  members  of  the  congregation  and  soiuc  others,  having 


42  HISTORY  'OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 

a  reference  to  the  position  of  the  clerk,  and  to  introduction  of  n-czu  tunes, 
urging  the  propriety  of  the  clerk's  standing  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  and  com- 
plaining of  so  many  new  tunes." 

This  matter  was  put  into  the  hands  of  a  committee  composed  of  the  pastor 
and  elders  Van  Lear  and  Allen,  who  were  to  consider  the  request  made,  to 
formulate  an  answer  and  report  to  the  session.  Tradition  says  it  was  the  duty 
of  the  clerk  to  announce  the  hymns,  reading  two  lines  and  then  singing  them 
before  reading  any  more,  thus  the  whole  hymn  would  be  sung. 

The  session  met  May  19,  1844,  to  receive  and  to  act  upon  the  report  of  the 
committee.  They  "presented  the  following  statement,  wdiich,  on  motion,  was 
unanimously  adopted  and  ordered  to  be  placed  upon  our  Minutes,  and  to  be 
read  to  the  congregation  : 

"A  respectful  petition  has  been  presented  to  the  session  of  this  Church 
signed  by  a  considerable  number  of  the  congregation,  which  the  session  has 
had  under  consideration,  and  respecting  which  they  have  come  unanimously 
to  the  views  and  conclusion  now  about  to  be  stated,  as,  on  the  whole,  in  their 
judgment,  most  advisable  in  the  case.  The  petition  has  reference  to  two 
points:  The  one  is  in  regard  to  the  position  of  the  clerk;  the  other  to  the 
introduction  of  nczv  tunes.  As  to  the  first  of  these — the  position  of  the  clerk — 
we  acknowledge  that  there  may  be  individual  preferences,  and  those  prefer- 
ences, honestly  entertained,  ought  always  to  be  treated  with  due  respect;  so, 
on  the  other  hand,  the  congregation  should  bear  in  mind  that  the  services  of 
a  clerk  are  entirely  gratuitous ;  that  the  office  is  to  most  persons,  at  best,  irk- 
some and  onerous,  and  that,  therefore,  unless  the  position  of  the  clerk  be  very 
objectionable,  from  its  remoteness  and  inconvenience,  there  should  be  all 
reasonable  indulgence  conceded  to  Jiis  decided  preferences.  At  all  events,  we 
cannot  regard  this  matter,  though  only  of  individual  preference,  as  being 
among  those  things  which  are  at  all  essential. 

"The  praises  of  God,  Ave  think,  may  be  sung  with  about  equal  acceptance, 
and  near  about  equal  convenience  to  most,  whether  our  clerk  be  immediately 
vnder  the  pulpit,  or  in  his  seat  immediately  in  front  of  it,  as  is  the  case  in 
many,  if  not  most  of  the  churches  in  our  land.    It  is  a  consideration,  too,  of  no 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH.  43 

small  weight,  if  not  absolutely  decisive  in  the  case,  that  while  the  ample  quali- 
fications of  our  present  clerk  are  acknowledged  in  the  congregation  and  out  of 
it,  we  know  of  no  one  else  of  acceptable  qualifications  who  would,  under 
present  circumstances,  be  willing  to  act  as  our  clerk  in  ajiy  position.  The 
practice  of  the  clerk  standing  in  front  of  the  pulpit  originated  chiefly  from 
the  fact  that  in  former  ages  the  people  generally  were  not  able  to  read,  or  to 
provide  themselves  conveniently  with  books.  The  circumstances  having 
changed,  the  necessity  or  importance  of  continuing  the  practice,  except  on 
particular  occasions,  is  not  the  same  it  once  was.  In  addition  to  all  this,  it  is 
proper  to  state  that  some  of  the  petitioners  themselves,  as  we  are  assured, 
regard  this  as  a  thing  respecting  which  they  have  no  pcrsoihil  preference  or 
wish. 

"As  to  the  introduction  of  new  tnncs,  we  must  take  it  for  granted  that 
no  one  can  wish  that  none  such  should  be  brought  into  use  in  our  Church, 
because  such  an  objection,  if  valid,  would  have  prevented  in  former  years  the 
introduction  of  those  which  are  now  old.  It  must  be  granted,  indeed,  by  all, 
that  new  tunes  ought  not  to  be  brought  in  too  fast,  but  the  congregation 
should  have  sufficient  time  to  learn  in  some  degree,  by  proper  efforts,  one  or 
more  that  may  be  on  hand,  before  they  are  called  upon  to  learn  others.  Here, 
however,  we  must  say  that  we  do  not  think  there  has  been  such  an  excess 
of  these  tunes  in  our  congregation  as  to  be  justly  oppressive  to  any  one,  since, 
upon  careful  inquiry,  we  are  not  able  to  ascertain  that  more  than  about  seven 
have  been  brought  into  use  during  the  last  seven  years.  A  good  proportion  of 
our  tunes  are  those  long  familiar  to  the  people.  Some  of  the  others,  though 
new  here,  are  really  about  as  old  as  the  existence  of  our  mother,  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Scotland.  Most  of  the  tunes  we  use  here,  are  considered  and 
used  by  the  church  at  large  as  among  the  choicest  specimens  of  music.  Our 
variety  is  yet  quite  limited.  Let  it  ever  be  remembered  that  in  any  number 
of  tunes  that  may  be  introduced,  every  favorite  of  every  person  in  the  congre- 
gation cannot,  in  the  nature  of  the  case,  be  included,  \\diilst  the  singing  in 
our  congregation  is  superior  to  that  in  most,  we  are  aware  it  is  not  what  it 
might  be,  and  the  session  of  this  Church  would  rejoice  to  co-operate  in  all 


44  HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 

suitable  ways  for  its  improvement ;  and  as  one  means  to  promote  it  would 
herel\v  recommend  and  urge  upon  all  the  propriety  of  furnishing  themselves 
with  our  excellent  new  Hymn  Book,  that  they  may  join  with  us  in  this 
delightful  part  of  the  services  of  the  sanctuary.  We  shall  be  happy  to  find 
that  this  matter  here  ends,  as  we  think  it  surely  ought.  Let  us  follow  the 
things  which  we  think  will  make  for  peace,  things  wherewith  one  may  edify 
another.  Let  us  remember  the  excellent  maxim  of  one  of  the  earlv  fathers 
of  the  Christian  Church,  'Li  things  essential,  unity;  in  things  not  essential, 
liberty;  in  all  things,  charity/  " 

Li  1855  another  very  radical  change  was  made.  Both  the  exterior  and 
interior  of  the  building  were  changed.  If  those  not  familiar  with  the  place 
\\n\\  refer  to  the  cuts  of  the  Church,  they  will  understand  these  changes  better. 
The  building  faces  the  east,  as  you  see  it  there.  Originally,  there  w^as  but  one 
double  door  in  the  east,  the  one  on  the  right  hand  as  you  face  the  Church.  Just 
opposite  to  this  door  there  was  a  double  one  in  the  west  end ;  between  these  two 
doors  was  the  aisle  running  the  length  of  the  building.  The  main  entrance  was 
on  the  south  side,  which  also  had  a  double  door.  From  this  entrance  on  the 
south,  there  was  another  double  aisle  running  to  the  north  side,  intersecting  the 
aisle  from  east  to  w^est  in  front  of  the  pulpit.  The  whole  interior  of  the  building 
was  changed.  The  pulpit  was  placed  in  the  west,  the  double  door  on  the 
south  was  closed,  the  aisle  running  from  it  to  the  north  was  removed.  A 
single  door  was  made  of  the  double  one  in  the  west,  and  a  new  double  door 
was  made  in  the  front  on  the  left  side  corresponding  to  the  one  on  the  right 
side.  A  double  aisle  running  from  this  left-hand  door  the  length  of  the 
building,  corresponding  to  the  one  on  the  right.  The  old  square  box  pews, 
which  were  very  high  and  faced  the  old  pulpit  in  the  north,  were  replaced  by 
more  modern  ones,  which  were  made  to  face  the  new  pulpit  in  the  west.  The 
Church  remains  substantially  as  it  was  changed  at  that  time. 

From  1836  to  i860  Dr.  Brown  was  pastor  of  this  Church.  At  that 
time  he  was  invited  by  the  stockholders  of  the  Central  Presbyterian  to  take 
charge  of  that  paper.  *Tn  consequence  of  the  failure  of  his  sight,  he  gave  up 
his  editorial  labors  in  1879.  and  removed  to  Fredericksburg,  Va.     T(^  obtain 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH.  47 

the  benefit  of  a  residence  in  a  warmer  climate,  he  removed  to  Florida,  where 
he  had  purchased  property  in  the  vicinity  of  Bay  View,  and  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  days  in  a  quiet  and  happy  home,  yet  able  to  minister  to 
the  little  church  near  his  residence,  where,  after  the  total  failure  of  his  sight, 
he  could  repeat  from  memory  the  hymns  to  be  sung  and  the  portions  of 
scripture  appropriate  to  the  service.  On  the  morning  of  April  22,  1894,  he 
gently  passed  away  from  the  darkened  earth  to  the  inheritance  of  the  saints 
in  light.  As  an  ecclesiastic  he  was  universally  recognized  as  an  authority 
in  the  courts  of  the  Church,  so  familiar  was  he  with  rules  of  order,  so 
well  acquainted  with  precedents,  so  thoroughly  posted  in  deliverances  and 
decisions  as  to  be  a  living  Digest.  He  had  an  eminently  judicial  mind,  united 
with  an  understanding  of  the  times,  to  know  what  Israel  ought  to  do,  and 
what  Israel  ought  not  to  do,  a  discernment  often  lacking  but  always  useful. 
He  was  thus  instrumental  in  directing  the  policy  of  the  Church  in  safe  chan- 
nels, and  in  restraining  it  from  needless  or  hurtful  legislation.  A  devout 
student  of  God's  Word,  a  man  of  prayer,  regulating  all  of  life  by  what  he 
believed  to  be  right  in  the  sight  of  God,  devoid  of  all  pretence,  free  from 
cant  and  religious  mannerism,  humble  and  sincere,  he  illustrated  in  his  life 
the  Truth  which  he  preached,  blessing  those  about  him  by  the  quiet,  uncon- 
scious influence  of  a  blameless  and  consistent  walk.  It  was  a  peculiarly  trying 
providence  which  brought  blindness  upon  one  who  took  peculiar  pleasure  in 
all  the  aspects  of  the  natural  world;  in  the  changing  seasons  of  the  year;  in 
the  starry  heavens;  in  the  faces  of  children,  and  in  the  works  of  Art.  And 
herein  is  the  grace  of  God  illustrated,  for  blindness,  in  his  experience,  was 
but  the  shadow  of  God's  wing.  It  brought  him  into  the  secret  place  of  the 
Tabernacle  of  the  Most  High,  into  the  pavilion  of  the  Divine  Presence;  and 
a  failure  of  natural  vision  only  made  the  eye  of  faith  more  clear  to  visions  of 
beauty  transcending  the  brightest  scenes  of  earth. 

"Dr.  Brown's  old  age  was  like  the  vestibule  of  the  Temple,  in  which  he 
waited  reverentially  and  patiently  until  the  time  arrived,  when  by  a  single 
step  he  passed  within  the  veil  to  see  the  King  in  His  beauty,  and  to  behold 
the  land  no  longer  afar  off,  but  a  present  inheritance,  an  eternal  and  satis- 
fying possession." 


48  HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 

Dr.  Brown's  strong  attachment  to  this  old  Churcli,  his  only  pastoral 
charge,  and  his  deep  interest  in  her  welfare  were  very  marked.  One  of  the 
last  acts  of  his  life  was  to  give  his  large  liljrary,  of  many  hundred  volumes, 
to  Augusta  Church  for  the  use  of  the  pastor  and  his  successors.  The  memory 
of  Dr.  Brown  is  cherished  most  tenderly  in  this  congregation  by  all  who 
knew  him. 


REV.   FRANCIS  H.   BOWMAN. 


CHAPTER  V. 
Rev.  Francis  H.  Bowman. 

REV.  FRANCIS  H.  BOWMAN  succeeded  Dr.  Brown  as  pastor  of  this 
Church,  in  1861.  He  was  the  son  of  Rev.  F.  and  Harriet  B.  Bowman. 
He  was  born  in  Charlottesvihe,  July  9,  1833. 

''He  gave  evidence  of  piety  in  early  life  and  became  a  communicant  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Greensboro,  Ga.,  of  which  his  father  was  pastor. 
He  was  fourteen  years  of  age  when  he  joined  the  church.  He  entered  Ogle- 
thorpe University  in  the  year  1848.  He  graduated  at  that  institution  in  1850. 
He  taught  for  one  year  after  this  in  Mt.  Zion  Academy,  from  which  place 
he  went  to  the  University  of  Virginia,  where  he  spent  two  years.  In  the 
prosecution  of  his  theological  course  he  was  one  year  at  Union  Seminary  and 
one  at  Princeton.  He  left  Princeton  in  the  spring  of  1856,  and  was  licensed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Hopewell.  Soon  after  this  he  was  ordained  and  installed 
co-pastor  of  a  church  in  Liberty  county,  Ga.  Later  he  became  pastor  of 
the  church  at  Greensboro,  Ala.,  but  his  health  failing,  he  remained  there  only 
a  short  time.  From  Greensboro  he  came  to  the  Augusta  Church.  His  pas- 
torate extended  through  the  very  trying  period  of  the  civil  war.  Mr.  Bow- 
man was  a  man  of  varied  attainments.  He  was  capable  of  filling  any  position, 
socially  or  in  the  courts  of  the  Church,  with  credit  to  himself  and  with  honor 
to  his  Church.  He  possessed  a  personal  magnetism,  and  an  ideal  pulpit  manner 
or  delivery,  which  gave  him  wonderful  power  over  all  who  came  in  touch 
with  him." 

One  who  is  qualified  to  speak  says  that  "he  was  the  finest  pulpiteer  he 
had  ever  seen."  He  was  the  possessor  of  an  unusually  fine  form  and  said  to 
be  very  handsome.  His  pulpit  ministrations  were  a  model  of  gracefulness 
and  dignity.  He  took  a  deep  hold  upon  this  people,  and  all  who  remember 
him  hold  him  in  the  highest  esteem.     Mr.  Bowman  may  justly  be  called  the 


52 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 


martyr  pastor  of  this  Church.  He  moved  from  here  to  Memphis.  After  he 
became  pastor  of  the  church  there,  yellow  fever  became  epidemic  in  that  city. 
Mr.  Bowman  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  stay  at  his  post.  He  did  not  spare  him- 
self by  fleeing  from  this  disease,  but  faithfully  ministered  to  his  afflicted  flock. 
When  he  left  his  home  to  visit  one  who  was  ill,  he  bade  his  family  good-bye, 
making  them  promise  him  that  if  he  contracted  this  terrible  disease,  they 
would  not  come  near  him.  This  was  the  last  time  he  saw  his  family.  He 
was  brought  home  ill  and  soon  died.  During  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Bowman 
here,  there  were  no  marked  changes  in  the  congregation." 


REV.   I.   W.  K.   HANDY,   D.   D. 


CHAPTER  VI. 
Rev.  I.  W.  K.  Handy,  D.  D. 

FROM  the  time  that  Mr.  Bowman's  pastoral  relation  with  this  Church  was 
dissolved  in  October,  1868,  Rev.  W.  G.  Campbell  supplied  this  pulpit 
until  Dr.  Handy  came.  Dr.  Handy  was  called  unanimously  by  Augusta 
Church,  January  30,  1870.    He  was  installed  pastor  in  May. 

Dr.  Handy  was  born  in  Washington,  D.  C,  December  14,  181 5.  He 
received  his  theological  education  at  Princeton  Seminary,  and  was  licensed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Washington  in  1838.  For  some  time  he  was  a  home 
missionary  in  Missouri.  This  work  did  not  agree  with  his  health,  however, 
and  he  returned  to  the  East,  settling  in  Delaware.  From  this  Church  he 
went  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  in  Portsmouth.  He  had  not  been  in 
that  city  long  when  yellow  fever  became  epidemic  in  Norfolk  and  Portsmouth. 
Like  his  predecessor  in  this  Church,  Dr.  Handy  "remained  at  his  post  and 
cared  faithfully  for  the  sick  and  the  dead  of  all  denominations."  The  posi- 
tions which  Dr.  Handy  held,  evidence  the  fact  that  he  was  a  man  of  unusual 
literary  attainments  and  an  indefatigable  worker.  Fie  was  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Historical  Society,  the  Maryland  Historical  Society,  and  of 
the  American  Scientific  Association.  "He  was  esteemed  for  his  laborious 
and  accurate  historical  researches."  "His  pastoral  work  in  the  bounds  of 
this  Church  and  congregation  'was  richly  favored  by  tokens  of  Divine  ap- 
proval and  endearing  him  to  the  whole  people.'  "  Dr.  Handy  was  impris- 
oned in  Fort  Delaware  for  fifteen  months.  "He  held  daily  religious  exer- 
cises in  organized  Bible  classes.  The  result  of  his  ministerial  labors  in  prison 
was  a  remarkable  revival  of  religion ;  and  not  a  few  Confederate  officers 
afterwards  became  ministers  of  the  Gospel.  His  largest  published  work, 
United  States  Bonds,  portrays  his  life  and  labors  in  prison."  He  was  a 
wonderfully  fascinating  man  and  a  fine  preacher.     He  died  in  Philadelphia  on 


56 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 


the  14th  of  June,  1878,  in  the  sixty-third  year  of  his  age.  ''His  remains 
were  brought  from  Philadelphia<  and  interred  near  the  old  Augusta  Church. 
He  was  warmly  endeared  to  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  kindred;  and  his 
memory  is  embalmed  in  the  hearts  of  his  brethren  in  the  ministry  of  the  Gos- 
pel." From  June  14,  1878,  the  date  of  Dr.  Handy 's  death,  till  the  4th  of  July, 
1879,  the  Church  was  without  a  pastor,  but  it  was  supplied. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  remainder  of  the  history  of  this  Church  to  the  present  will  be  treated 
as  one  period.  During  this  period,  from  1879  to  1900,  this  Church 
has  been  ministered  to  b}^  three  pastors,  whose  autobiographical  sketches  in  the 
order  of  their  pastorates,  will  follow  the  account  of  the  whole  field  for  this 
length  of  time. 

The  bounds  of  this  congregation  have  changed  since  Dr.  Craig  gave  its 
dimensions  as  thirty  miles  long  and  twenty  wide.  It  embraces  a  territory 
now  about  twelve  miles  by  fourteen.  This  diminution  of  territory  is  due 
mainly  to  the  organization  of  churches  around  the  borders  and  within  the 
limits  of  this  Church,  many  of  whose  members,  or  their  parents,  once  attended 
here.  She  has  been  strengthening  her  position  by  establishing  out-posts  at 
the  following  places,  which  will  be  named  in  the  order  of  their  establishment : 
Bezetha  Chapel,  at  Burketown;  Spring  Hill,  Roman  and  New  Hope.  The 
ministrations  of  the  Gospel  at  these  points  have  been  blessed  of  the  Lord  in 
bringing  into  the  Church  a  large  number,  who  have  contributed  spiritual  and 
financial  strength  to  the  Church.  Perhaps  no  period  of  equal  length  in  the 
history  of  this  Church  has  felt  more  keenly  the  drainage  upon  her  strength 
than  this  one.  This  is  due  mainly  to  three  causes:  (i)  Deaths  and  removals; 
(2)  the  wave  of  financial  depression  which  swept  over  her,  causing  (3) 
financial  embarrassment  to  many.  Notwithstanding  all  this  she  has  braved 
every  storm,  and  has  fair  prospects,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  of  great 
usefulness  in  the  future.  The  Church  as  constituted  has  six  elders :  Dr.  Wil- 
liam Bell,  clerk  of  session,  William  H.  Moorman,  Peter  H.  See,  E.  McK. 
McCue,  Chas.  Edward  Crawford  and  Frank  R.  Bell.  The  deacons  are 
Samuel  Byers,  John  A.  Brown,  Frank  McCue.  James  T.  Kerr  and  G.  Craw- 
ford Miller.    She  has  at  this  time  two  hundred  and  fourteen  members. 


REV.  ALEXANDER   SPRUNT,   D.   D. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
Rev.  Alexander  Sprunt,  D.  D. 

THE  first  part  of  this  period  of  twenty  years  this  Church  was  ministered 
to  by  Dr.  Alexander  Sprunt.  "Alexander  Sprunt  was  born  in  Glas- 
gow, Scotland,  July  lo,  1852.  His  parents  were  Alexander  and  Jane  Dalziel 
Sprunt,  and  he  is  the  fifth  child  of  a  family  of  nine  children,  five  sons  and 
four  daughters.  His  father  was  British  Vice-Consul  for  North  Carolina. 
About  the  year  1854,  his  father  moved  to  Wilming-ton,  N.  C,  and  continued 
there  until  his  death,  during  the  pastorate  of  the  son  in  this  Church.  The  early 
part  of  Dr.  Sprunt's  life  was  therefore  spent  in  Wilmington,  where  the  mem- 
bers of  his  father's  family,  with  two  exceptions,  still  reside.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  Wilmington ;  at  Upper  Canada  College,  in  Toronto,  Canada ;  at 
Davidson  College,  N.  C,  where  he  graduated  in  1875  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts,  and  at  Union  Theological  Seminary,  Hampden-Sidney, 
Va.,  graduating  in  1878. 

"In  April,  1878,  he  was  licensed  bv  \\"ilmington  Presbytery  to  preach  the 
Gospel  as  a  probationer.  His  first  work  in  the  ministry  was  as  assistant 
to  Rev.  H.  M.  White,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  Loudoun  Street  Church,  Winchester, 
Va.  He  was  ordained  to  the  full  work  of  the  ministry  by  Winchester  Pres- 
bytery in  November,  1878.  In  June,  1879,  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of 
Augusta  Church,  and  on  July  4,  1879,  he  arrived  in  the  bounds  of  the  con- 
gregation to  undertake  the  work  of  this  pastorate.  Just  six  weeks  before 
this  he  had  been  united  in  marriage  to  INIiss  Ellen  Richardson,  the  second 
daughter  of  the  late  Rev.  Thomas  E.  Peck,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  of  Union  Theo- 
logical Seminary.  Dr.  Sprunt's  pastorate  continued  from  July,  1879,  to 
March,  1885,  ^vhen  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Church  at  Henderson,  N.  C, 
where  he  continued  until  called  by  the  Committee  of  Evangelistic  Labor  in  his 
Synod,  to  undertake  the  superintendency  of  this  aggressive  work  of  the 
Synod.  He  continued  in  this  position  for  about  a  year,  and  shortly  after 
his  resignation,  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Church,  Rock 
Hill,  S.  C,  where  he  now  labors." 


REV.  GEORGE   L.   BITZER. 


CHAPTER  IX. 
Rev.  Geo.  L.  Bitzer. 

THE  eighth  pastor  of  Augusta  Church,  was  born  in  Clark  county,  Va., 
December  21,  i860.  A  baptized  child  of  the  church,  he  came  to  a 
saving  knowledge  of  Jesus  at  some  time  during  his  thirteenth  year  (the  time 
indefinite).  Confessed  Christ  in  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Alex- 
andria, Va.,  January  4,  1874,  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  J.  J.  Bullock,  D.  D., 
graduate  of  St.  John's  Academy,  Alexandria,  in  1877;  spent  three  years  in 
teaching;  then,  being  called  to  the  ministry,  five  years  were  given  to  prepa- 
ration for  the  work  of  preaching,  at  Washington  and  Lee  University,  Union 
Theological  Seminary,  and  elsewhere.  During  one  session,  i884-'85,  he 
taught  Hebrew  in  the  School  of  Theology  at  Austin,  Texas;  was  licensed  as 
a  probationer  for  the  ministry  by  Winchester  Presbytery,  September  11,  1884; 
ordained  by  Lexington  Presbytery  in  an  adjourned  meeting  held  at  Augusta 
Church,  October  9,  1885;  labored  at  Augusta  Church  from  June  13,  1885,  to 
September  25,  1889;  at  Portland  Avenue,  Louisville,  Ky.,  from  October  i, 
1889,  to  May  15,  1892;  at  Leesburg,  Va.,  May  15,  1892,  to  April  i,  1898; 
from  April  i,  1898,  to  the  present  at  Huntsville,  Alabama. 


REV.  J.   N.   VAN  DEVANTER. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Rev.  J.  N.  Van  Devanter. 

REV.  J.  N.  VAN  DEVANTER  was  born  near  Waterford,  Loudoun 
county,  Va.,  August  20,  1857.  His  parents  were  Armistead  M.  and  Pa- 
tience Taylor  Van  Devanter.  When  nearly  twelve  years  of  age  he  united  with 
the  Catoctin  Presbyterian  Church,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  W.  Lupton, 
D.  D.  His  preparatory  training  was  in  Waterford,  and  his  Collegiate  and 
Theological,  was  at  Hampden-Sidney  College  and  Union  Theological  Semi- 
nary. He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  Lexington  Presbytery  at  an  adjourned 
meeting  held  in  Staunton,  June,  1883,  at  which  time  he  accepted  calls  to  the 
home  mission  field  of  Lexington  Presbytery  in  West  Virginia.  He  was  called 
to  the  pastorate  of  the  Church  at  Philippi,  Barbour  county,  and  as  stated  supply 
to  Leading  Creek  Church  (now  Elkins)  and  to  Holly  Meadows  Church,  in 
Tucker  county.  This  pastorate  continued  for  three  years  and  six  months. 
During  this  time  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Lelia  O.,  eldest  daughter  of  D.  C. 
and  Woodie  McDowell  Tabb. 

January  i,  1887,  he  entered  upon  the  pastorate  of  Beverly  and  Leading 
Creek  Churches,  in  Randolph  county,  for  the  whole  of  his  time.  He  remained 
for  four  years  and  two  months.  He  was  called  to  Augusta  Church  in  1891,  and 
entered  upon  his  work  here  the  first  Sunday  of  March.  This  pastorate  of 
nearly  nine  years  has  been  a  most  pleasant  one.  The  results  of  which  will 
have  to  be  written  by  the  next  historian.  This  Church  has  a  Bible  Society, 
which  is  older  than  the  Virginia  Bible  Society.  Its  annual  meetings  are 
held  in  May,  and  its  contributions  are  sent  to  the  Virginia  Society. 


CHAPTER  XL 
One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Anniversary  of  Augusta  Church. 

ACCORDING  to  Dr.  Craig's  account,  the  building  was  used  for  the  first 
time  January  22,  1749.  The  date  for  this  anniversary,  of  course, 
was  January  22,  1899;  but  it  was  not  deemed  advisable  to  attempt  anything 
on  this  scale  in  midwinter,  with  such  weather  as  we  naturally  expected  at 
this  time  of  the  year,  for  it  would  have  been  impossible  to  have  made  a 
large  crowd  comfortable  at  that  time.  We  did,  however,  have  communion 
service  on  January  22d,  and  had  with  us  Rev.  L.  H.  Paul,  pastor  of  the 
Mossy  Creek  Church.  This  Church  is  the  oldest  daughter  of  Augusta  Church. 
October  was  the  month  and  the  i8th  and  19th  the  days  chosen  on  which 
to  hold  the  celebration.  The  Presbytery  of  Lexington  was  invited  to  hold 
its  fall  meeting  here  at  that  time,  and  to  participate  with  us  in  the  pleasures 
of  the  occasion.  Presbytery  met  on  Tuesday,  October  17th,  and  was  opened 
with  a  sermon  by  Rev.  Thornton  Whaling,  D.  D.,  of  Lexington,  Va.  On 
Wednesday,  10  a.  m.,  the  Hon.  Joseph  Addison  Waddell,  LL.  D.,  author  of 
Annals  of  Augusta  Conuty,  gave  a  most  interesting  historical  address  under 
the  title,  "Reminiscences."  Surely,  no  one  was  better  prepared  to  make  this 
address  than  he,  and  it  was  listened  to  with  excellent  attention.  At  11  a.  m. 
Rev.  G.  B.  Strickler,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  of  Union  Seminary,  spoke  from  the  sub- 
ject, "Divine  Origin  of  the  Scriptures."  In  this  discourse  Dr.  Strickler 
stated  with  perfect  fairness  the  objections  made  to  the  Scriptures,  and  then, 
with  that  invincible  logic  which  he  wields  so  easily  and  so  naturally,  he 
swept  away  all  obstacles,  causing  the  Bible  to  stand  forth  unimpeached,  not- 
withstanding the  long-continued  efforts  of  its  enemies.  He  made  his  audi- 
ence feel  that  it  is  the  JJ^ord  of  God,  stirring  in  the  heart  of  the  believer  a 
new  delight  in  his  Bible.  Following  this  at  2  :30  p.  m.  was  an  address  by  that 
gifted  speaker  and  orator,  Rev.   G.  W.   Finley,  D.   D.,  of  Tinkling  Spring 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 


65 


Church,  on  "The  Open  Bible  in  the  Hands  of  the  People."  The  design  in 
this,  which  he  admirably  carried  out,  was  to  show  the  effects  which  the 
"Open  Bible"  had  produced,  even  the  great  Reformation,  and  the  blessings 
and  benefits  which  have  come  down  to  us  from  it.  Thus  the  history  of  this 
Church  leads  us  back  to  the  Reformation  before  we  find  an  adequate  cause 
to  account  for  its  existence.  It  was  at  this  time  that  the  power  of  the  open 
Bible  began  to  be  felt.  Thus  this  Church  owed  its  origin  and  history  to  the 
Reformation,  and  she  was  indebted  to  the  Bible,  and  the  Bible  was  the  Word 
of  God.  Thursday,  19th,  11  a.  m..  Rev.  W.  W.  Moore,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  of 
Union  Seminary,  spoke  on  the  subject,  "Presbyterianism  and  Education."  In 
a  masterly  and  irrefutable  manner  he  showed  the  elevating  and  cultivating 
influence  of  Presbyterianism  upon  the  mind  and  heart  of  the  recipient,  broad- 
ening and  deepening  his  mind,  teaching  not  only  self-respect,  but  respect  for 
authority  and,  above  all,  reverence  for  God.  The  effects  produced  by  Presby- 
terianism on  the  history  of  the  world  were  abundantly  testified  to  by  distin- 
guished scholars  of  other  denominations,  whose  names  and  opinions  Dr. 
Moore  gave,  to  show  that  Presbyterianism  was  not  an  invention  of  man  any 
more  so  than  the  complex  being,  man  himself,  who  is  soul  and  body.  The  Doc- 
trine is  the  soul  of  Presbyterianism,  and  the  Form  of  Government  is  the  body 
of  Presbyterianism. 

Dr.  Whaling  followed,  proving  that  the  body  was  of  divine  origin, 
formed  and  fashioned  by  God  Himself,  as  well  as  the  soul  (the  doctrine) 
which  He  gave  to  dwell  within  it.  And,  further,  that  this  soul  demands  a 
body  like  this  to  dwell  in,  as  best  suited  for  glorifying  God  who  gave  it.  So 
both  Doctrine  and  Form  of  Government  owe  their  origin  to  Him,  and  He  is 
shown  to  be  their  direct  Author  just  as  really  and  just  as  truly  as  man  owes  his 
origin  to  Him,  when  He  created  his  body  from  the  ground  and  breathed  into 
his  nostrils  the  breath  of  life.  Dr.  Whaling's  subject  was  "Divine  Origin 
of  Presbyterian  Church  Polity;"  i.  c,  that  the  Presbyterian  Form  of  Govern- 
ment is  the  Bible  form,  and  the  Bible  has  been  shown  to  be  God's  revealed 
will  to  man.  The  presentation  of  this  subject  was  the  most  scholarly  and 
conclusive  that  I  have  ever  seen  or  heard.     We  were  celebrating  the  Anni- 


66  HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 

versary  of  a  Presbyterian  Church.  Its  Government  and  Doctrine  make  it 
Presbyterian,  and  these  are  derived  from  the  open  Bible.  While  revelling 
in  the  luxurious  presentation  of  the  two  sides  of  Presbyterianism — the  divine 
origin  of  its  Doctrine  and  Government,  neither  the  memory  of  the  fathers 
who  so  bravely  contended  for  the  Faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints,  and 
who  transmitted  it  to  us,  was  forgotten,  nor  their  last  resting  place  neglected. 
On  Friday,  immediately  after  the  dinner  hour,  and  before  the  time  for  the 
afternoon  session  of  Presbytery,  a  large  number  of  the  Presbytery  and  crowds 
of  visitors  marched  to  the  "old  cemetery."  After  the  graves  had  been  looked 
upon  the  two  speakers,  Drs.  Finley  and  Whaling,  chosen  but  a  few  moments 
before,  took  their  position  on  a  mound  on  the  gently  sloping  hillside  a  little  way 
north  of  Dr.  Craig's  tomb;  the  crowd  was  called  to  order;  a  company  of 
Cadets  of  the  Augusta  Military  Academy  were  drawn  up  in  line  on  one  side  of 
the  crowd,  all  contributed  to  make  a  most  imposing  and  touching  scene.  Be- 
neath tlrat  sod  lay  ministers,  elders,  wives,  mothers  and  daughters,  soldiers  and 
statesmen.  Above  them  stood  or  sat  the  crowd,  representing  all  ages  and 
classes.  To  these  Drs.  Finley  and  Whaling  spoke.  Their  effort  was  im- 
promptu, and  yet  it  is  doubtful  if  these  brethren  ever  acquitted  themselves 
more  handsomely,  as  they  paid  their  tributes  to  the  dead,  to  the  Christian 
and  to  the  patriot,  and  appealed  to  those  who  had  entered  this  goodly  heritage 
to  live  lives  worthy  of  their  ancestors,  whose  memory  we  are  commemorating. 
The  experiences  of  this  short  hour  will  never  be  forgotten  by  many  who  were 
present  that  day. 

The  crowd  of  people  who  attended  this  "anniversary"  was  estimated  to 
be  at  least  i,6oo  on  Wednesday,  and  not  less  than  2,000  on  Thursday.  In 
the  large  grove  there  were  said  to  be  from  400  to  500  vehicles.  How  different 
from  the  scene  described  by  Dr.  Foote  when  he  says,  there  was  not  one  vehicle 
of  any  kind  to  be  seen,  but  that  the  grove  was  filled  with  horses  and  people. 
The  following  is  taken  from  the  Staunton  Spectator  and  Jlndicator: 

"But  the  surprise  and  wonder  of  it  all  was  the  ease  and  sumptuous 
manner  in  which  all  this  multitude  was  fed,  verily  feasted,  by  the  hospitable 
people  of  the  community.     Upon  a  big  hollow  square  of  tables  under  the 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH.  67 

oaks  was  spread  the  greatest  profusion  of  every  substantial  and  delicacy  that 
the  country  and  city  markets  can  afford,  and  though  the  people  ate  with  an 
appetite  sharpened  by  the  worry  of  travel,  the  fatigue  of  sitting  and  the 
bracing  October  air,  there  was  every  day,  after  all  had  finished,  a  plenty  tor 
many  more.  Then,  again,  at  night  the  visitors  by  hundreds  found  the  hos- 
pitable doors  of  the  many  homes  for  miles  around  wide  open,  and  to  the  sur- 
prise of  strangers  unaccjuainted  with  the  resources  of  our  Valley  people, 
every  one  was  comfortably  quartered,  and  there  was  not  heard  a  complaint 
from  any  one  on  account  of  himself  or  his  beast." 

The  following  "Ode  to  the  Old  Stone  Church"  was  written  by  Rev. 
R.  M.  Tuttle,  of  Collierstown,  and  was  read  on  this  anniversary.  By  per- 
mission it  is  added  to  the  account  of  those  services. 

ODE  TO  THE  OLD  STONE  CHURCH. 

One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Anniversary. 

Hail !      Old   Building — roof   and   rafters, 

Cornice,  casings,  sills  and  beams, 
Floor  and  walls,  and  deep  foundations, 

Pew  and  pulpit,  joint  and  seams! 
We  are  here  to  do  you  honor, 

And  the  day  most  fitting  seems. 

Time,  whose  tooth  is  ever  grinding. 

Turning  marble  into  mould, 
Leaves  but  little  trace  upon  thee, 

Telling  us  that  thou  art  old. 
And,  indeed,  the  years  but  render 

Thee  more  prized  than  gems  untold. 

Thou  hast  past  through  Revolutions, 

And  hast  echoed  back  the  yells 
Of  the  savages  in  hiding, 

Or  when  traversing  the  dells. 
And  thy  secrets,  could  we  know  them, 

Would  enchant,  like  charmer's  spells. 


58  HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH. 

In  the  haze  that  gathers  'round  thee, 
In  the  mist  of  vanished  years, 

Shades  of  lu&ty  men  and  women. 
So  to  Fancy  it  appears, 

Are  in  groups,  and  bands,  and  bevies. 
Working  in  the  midst  of  fears. 

Fathers,  mothers,  sons,  and  daughters, 
All  are  busy,  all  are  here ; 

Some  at  quarry,  some  a-building, 
With  the  trusty  rifle  near. 

And  with  sand-bags  from  the  river 
Women  in  the  scene  appear. 

Thus  it  was,  thou  stony  temple, 
That  thy  walls  did  nobly  rise; 

Faith  and  Hope,  and  Resolution, 
Under  God's  beholding  eyes, 

Moved  the  builders,  holy  heroes, 
In  the  truly  grand  emprise. 

In  yon  well-kept  ancient  acre. 
For  at  least  a  hundred  years. 

Those  old  worthies  have  been  sleeping 
In  their  narrow  sepulchres ; 

Precious  dust !  by  angels  guarded, 
Till  the  Trump  of  God  it  hears. 

In  the  pulpit,  cleric  figures, 
Greet  us  in  a  moving  scene, — 

Craig  and  Speece,  and  Brown  and  others, 
Holding  up  the  Nazarene, 

And  each  pastor  to  the  present 
Is  in  the  procession  seen. 

Yet  another  scene's  before  us ! 

It  is  a  Communion  day, 
And  the  pews  and  aisles  are  peopled. 

Awed  and  sombre  in  array. 
By  those  living  in  the  distance 

Three-times  fifty  years  away. 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH.  6q 

Pastor  Craig  has  preached  the  sermon, 

And  the  table  white  is  spread, 
And  communicants  are  sitting 

'Round  the  board  with  bowed  head, 
While  the  elders  pass  the  emblems. 

And  appropriate  words  are  said. 

Such  the  scenes  and  recollections. 

And  inspiring,  too,  they  are. 
Which  do  here  in  the  devotions 

Mingle  with  the  praise  and  prayer. 
And  they  send  us  forth  to  duty, — 

For  the  Lord  to  do  and  dare. 

Grove-embowered  church  and  fortress. 

Reared  for  worship  and  defence ! 
Border  tales,  and  songs,  and  sermons 

Charged  with  old-time  eloquence. 
Linger  here,  like  mountain  echoes. 

Or  like  some  rare  redolence. 

Like  thy  solid  walls,  Old  Building, 

Is  the  faith  thy  people  preach. 
And  enduring  as  the  mountains 

Every  doctrine  that  they  teach. 
And  their  hopes,  bound  to  the  Saviour, 

To  the  higliest  heavens  reach. 

Now  upon  thee,  softly  falling. 

Like  the  dew  upon  the  rose. 
We  would  lay  our  benedictions 

At  this  solemn  moment's  close. 
And  we  pray  that  God  would  keep  thee 

From  disintegrating  foes. 

Lord,  to  by-gone  generations 

Thou  didst  here  reveal  Thy  Name, 
And  Thy  Love  upon  the  altar 

Here  has  burned  a  constant  flame. 

And  to  future  congregations. 

Fount  of  Blessing,  grant  the  same ! 
October,  1899.  Quirinus. 


The  One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Anniversary  of  the 
Old  Stone  Church, 

By  Mrs.  Elizabeth  McCue, 

Granddaughter  of  the  Second  Pastor  ^  Rev.  William  Wilson,  D.  D. 


One  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago, 

These  sacred  walls  were  reared; 

By  sturdy  men  of  pious  zeal 

With  courage  great  that  never  feared, 

When  the  red  man  lurked  around, 

And  they  by  Britain's  laws  were  bound, 

Unstintingly  of  work  they  gave, 

And  of  their  need  that  they  had  saved, 

Laid  a  foundation  firm. 

To  keep  the  walls  of  this  old  church 

Unmoved  by  time  as  years  roll  on ; 

No  sculptured  marble  floor  was  laid. 

But  legend  says,  the  first  of  stone  was  made. 

No  spire  from  its  drooping  roof 

Turns  round  with  glittering  sheen, 

That  shelters  here  these  old  grey  walls 

From  many  storms  that've  been. 

God's  book,  the  lamp  that  brightly  shines, 

Is  laid  upon  the  pulpit  near, 

To  guide  the  Protestant  divines, 

Men  of  long  and  learned  line. 

Above  is  reared  a  marble  slab, 

Deep  letters  on  it  carved. 

The  names  of  all  the  reverend  men 

Who've  labored  here  with  love  and  fame. 


HISTORY  OF  AUGUSTA  CHURCH.  y^ 

Oh!  could  we  call  the  many  back 

Who've  worshipped  here  in  days  of  yore ; 

Whose  silent  feet  have  walked  these  aisles, 

We'll  never  meet  them  more; 

And  see  the  old  high  pulpit  stand, 

Beside  the  long  north  wall ; 

And  the  sounding  board  that  hung  above 

The  chancel  near  at  hand; 

As  now  we  see  the  grand  old  beam  across. 

That  spans  beneath  the  dome  to-day. 

Dear  to  us  all  is  this  old  stone  church, 
As  we  meet  to-day  within  its  walls 
And  look  behind  and  think  of  those 
Who  for  their  part  their  Saviour  chose; 
And  when  the  echoes  of  cycling  years 
Stir  our  hearts  with  grief  and  pain, 
Come,  kneel  within  its  loved  old  walls, 
And  hear  the  word  of  God  again. 

And  may  the  echoes  of  these  years 

Rest  on  this  old  stone  church. 

And  every  stone  a  monument 

To  those  who  built  this  house. 

As  we  to-day  commemorate 

Our  Saviour's  dying  love. 

All  glory  unto  Him  ascribe. 

And  open  wide  the  doors  and  let  His  glory  in, 

The  holy  gospel  of  the  Lord,  who  gave  His  life  for  sin. 

And  honor  those  who  sleep  in  sight. 

Beneath  the  shadow  of  these  years; 

Whose  names  on  many  a  slab  were  carved. 

Now  crumbled  into  dust; 

But  God,  He  will  remember  and  number  with  the  just. 


CHAPTER  XII. 
The  Old  Communion  Service. 

THIS  old  service  has  attracted  a  good  deal  of  attention,  and  has  been 
very  much  admired.  There  is  practically  no  doubt  as  to  the  facts 
stated  in  regard  to  this  service.  Its  history  is  called  "traditionary"  because 
we  have  not  gained  these  facts  from  records  written  or  printed.  They  have 
been  handed  down  from  one  generation  to  another,  but  in  such  a  way  that 
the  facts  can  scarcely  be  questioned.  At  an  early  period  in  the  history  of 
this  Church  this  congregation  sent  to  England  for  this  service.  It  was 
"before  Philadelphia  was  a  shipping  port."  The  vessel  which  brought  this 
service  landed  at  Newcastle,  Delaware.  There  being  no  railroads  at  that 
time,  it  was  necessary  to  bring  the  service  by  land,  in  the  way  they  transported 
their  goods  in  those  days.  When  it  arrived,  and  the  price  of  it  was  known, 
the  congregation  met  at  the  Church  to  decide  what  to  do — whether  to  accept 
or  to  return  it.  The  matter  was  discussed,  and  the  conclusion  almost  reached 
to  return  it,  because  they  did  not  feel  able  to  pay  for  it.  A  letter  was  read 
from  an  absent  member,  advising  them  to  keep  the  service,  that  they  could 
pay  for  it.  One  of  the  noble  wives  of  the  congregation,  willing  to  make  any 
sacrifice  on  her  part  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  good  of  His  cause,  said  that 
she  had  been  saving  her  mites  for  a  long  time,  that  she  might  purchase  a  set 
of  silver  spoons  for  licr  table,  but  that  the  Lord's  table  must  be  furnished 
before  hers ;  that  she  would  give  this  money  which  she  had  been  saving  so 
long  to  gratify  the  desire  of  her  heart.  This  simple  statement  reversed  the 
whole  tide  of  feeling.  Her  example  of  self-denial  was  contagious;  there 
was  one  after  another  of  those  present  who  followed  her  example,  until  they 
not  only  decided  to  keep  the  service,  but  readily  paid  for  it.  This  service  has 
been  in  continuous  use  here  since  that  time. 


CONCLUSION. 

Dear  Brethren  and  Members  of  the  "Old  Augusta  Stone  ChureJi"  of  ipoo: 

Your  historian  has  faithfully,  without  sparing  time  and  labor,  gathered 
and  woven  into  one  continuous  story  the  facts  concerning  the  organization  of 
this  Church  and  the  old  building.  He  has  endeavored  to  show  you  what  you 
have  received  from  the  past,  with  its  hallowed  memories  and  associations.  This 
precious  heritage  descends  to  you  in  trust.  It  is  not  a  gift  that  yon  may  dis- 
pose of  at  will,  but  as  it  was  held  by  the  fathers  that  you  might  receive  the 
blessings  of  which  it  is  a  means,  so  to  you  this  day  comes  the  responsibility 
of  making  it  a  means  of  blessing  to  the  future.     Its  future  depends  upon  you. 

May  the  memories  of  the  past — the  self-sacrifice,  devotion  to  duty,  zeal  in 
the  Lord's  cause,  and  soundness  in  the  faith,  inspire  every  heart.  When  you 
look  upon  this  old  building  hoary  with  age,  think  of  the  thousands  upon 
thousands  whom  God  has  met  here  and  blessed,  as  they  worshipped  in  His 
Temple,  and  who  have  passed  into  that  Temple  not  made  with  hands  to  be 
forever  with  the  Lord.  When  you  look  upon  that  service  remember  the 
throngs  who  have  used  it  reverently,  and  who  remembering  with  godly  sorrow 
the  sins  which  caused  His  death,  looked  with  joy  to  the  time  when  He  should 
come.    These  are  now  in  the  presence  of  their  Lord. 

Remember  that  the  usefulness  of  the  Church  in  the  future  depends  upon 
the  faithfulness  with  which  you  do  your  part.  May  He  add  His  blessing  to 
your  every  effort,  and  grant  that  His  peace  may  abide  with  you  forever. 


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